Paul Eugene Ehly

Paul Eugene Ehly, 94, was born in Concordia, Kan., on Aug. 8, 1914, and was raised in Enid, Okla. There his father, August "Gus" Ehly, opened one of the early J.C. Penney stores (Mr. Penny was a family friend). Paul was preceded in death by his parents, August "Gus" and Lucy Ehly; his brother, Warren and wife, Vera Belle Ehly. Paul graduated from Enid High School in 1931, Phillips University in 1935 (BD), a MA in 1936, and a BD degree from Phillips Graduate Seminary in 1937. He continued his education in Edinburgh, Scotland, School of Religion and the University of Tubingen, Germany (1937 to 1938), and in 1963 received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary. He was named Outstanding Alumnus by PTS in 2003. Paul is survived by his wife, Esther Bentley. They were married on May 21, 1937, in Topeka, Kan. They have two children, Linda Whitney and husband Leon of Ellisville, Mo., and Dr. Victor Paul Ehly and wife Diane of Worcester, Vermont. They have three grandchildren, Shari Radloff, Susan McGehee and Kira Ehly, and five great-grandchildren. Paul served two churches in Oklahoma as a student and together they served four churches in Kansas before moving to Raytown, Mo., where they led in growing the Church from 440 to 2,000 members. Paul also served the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (DOC) in St. Louis for 11 years as a development director, corporate secretary and assistant CEO at Woodhaven Learning Center in Columbia, Mo. Paul and Esther built a home at Lenoir Woods in 1976, even before they retired, and have lived at Lenoir Woods nearly all of the years since. They were a team through all their years of Church service and in "retirement" he would do the preaching and she would play the piano or organ and sing solos. They served several churches around Columbia, including Olivet in Columbia, Dixie, Fulton, Harrisburg, Hallsville and Millersburg. Paul and Esther had been active members of Broadway Christian Church and especially enjoyed being a part of the church choir. Until recent years, they had also been a part of the Lenoir Woods Vespers Choir. They have truly enjoyed the blessing of many, many friends through the years and they life they built at Lenoir Woods! A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Broadway Christian Church or Lenoir Woods LSS. Tributes can be left online at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.