Sidney Fay Pauls Sr.

POQUOSON - Sidney Fay "Sid" Pauls Sr., 78, passed away Sunday, October 19, 2014 surrounded by family. A native and resident of Poquoson, he was retired from NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton. He was a lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Poquoson where he was active in various activities and committees over the years, and served in the U.S. Army. Sid was a 1954 graduate of PHS, where he was a popular student, trumpet player, and athlete, and served on many committees and clubs. He went on to graduate in 1958 from The College of William and Mary with a degree in Business Administration, and was in the R.O.T.C. and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity there. It was his freshman year that he met the love of his life and future bride, Betty. He furthered his education by receiving his Master's degree, and then went on to earn his PhD from Harvard School of Business and Massachusetts School of Business (MIT). Early in his career at NASA, Sid worked developing life support systems for future human spaceflight missions. As part of this activity, he was responsible for the Manned Orbital Laboratory Life Support System. This activity was the first effort to define life support requirements, later used in the development of the current International Space Station. During his years at NASA Langley Research Center, he held various department head positions and took delight in mentoring promising young employees. He authored many papers and worked with associates in Washington, DC, Houston, TX, the Wallops Island facility and other centers. Later in his career, he managed Human Resources at Langley, retiring in 1995 as the Associate Director, managing Center Operations. In recognition of his contributions in the management of Langley Research Center, Sid received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service. He was nationally recognized for his contributions, being selected as a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. He served on the Board of Directors of several prestigious organizations, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA,) as well as the Virginia Air and Space Museum, which he was instrumental in establishing. After his retirement from NASA, Sid worked on the faculty of George Washington University and was also self-employed as an independent consultant to various local Langley affiliated companies. He and some colleagues created Learning Curve Coalition, an endeavor of which he was very proud. In more recent years, Sid took much delight in the hours he spent volunteering at the Poquoson Public Library. When the young folk would take his hours during the summer months, he would laughingly say he had "been laid off!" Sid was a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner; was a leader and the first President of the Poquoson Jaycees; and was a member of the Olde Guarde of W&M. He will be remembered by many local men as a positive influence on them due to his involvement in youth sports; he coached Little League baseball and youth football. Sid was an avid golfer, and belonged to several local Golf Clubs. He and wife Betty never met a golf course they didn't like during their extensive travels through the years! He also loved to read, and do anything that allowed him to be on the Poquoson River. But his first love was his family and he was devoted to them. Sid was preceded in death by his parents, Nolian Watkins and John William Pauls, and his special fur-baby, "Misty". He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Betty Bowser Pauls; daughter, Susan "Susie" Pauls Burnett and husband, Dean; son, Sidney F. Pauls Jr. and wife, Susan; grandsons, Michael Dean Burnett, Jeffrey T. Langhorne, and Spencer John Pauls; sister, Rosalyn Pauls Hunt and husband, Henry "B" Hunt; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends tonight, 6-7:30 PM, at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, Poquoson, and other times at the home, 10 Poquoson River Drive. A Celebration of Sid's life will be Saturday, 1:00 PM, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Poquoson, by Rev. Charles R. Stacy and Rev. George T. Insley Jr. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Poquoson Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 2099, Poquoson, VA, 23662. Online condolences to claytorrolllins.com .