Paul Leo Hendrix, Jr.

Paul Leo Hendrix, Jr

7 September, 1931- 23 December, 2023

Paul Hendrix, Jr - a husband, our father and our grandfather quietly passed away on the evening of December 23rd, 2023. Paul Jr was the only child born to Paul Leo Hendrix, Sr and Verniece Hazel Stampley Hendrix on 7 September, 1931 in Dallas, Texas. He celebrated his 92nd birthday this fall.

Paul's early childhood years were spent in Dallas, living with his parents and beloved grandmother, Florence Stampley. The trajectory of young Paul's life and family was changed forever when his father, Paul Sr, died in 1936. Paul Jr was only 4 years old.

Amid the depression, his widowed mother working and a grandmother running a boarding house, life and school were not always secure for little Paul. As a young school boy he was given a place at the Masonic Home and School of Fort Worth, Texas. He would attend and live at the Masonic Home during the rest of his school years. The students and teachers became the family that young Paul needed. He found a place of safety and motivation. He fondly and often shared his many memories and life-long friendships from "The Home", as well as playing sports on some of the many "Mighty Mites" teams, most notably track and football teams. He graduated the Class of 1949.

Paul attended Texas A&M in 1949-1950 for his first year of college and was on the track and field team. After finishing his freshman year at Texas A&M, he enlisted in the US Navy. From 1951-1954 Paul served in the US Navy during the Korean War. His wartime tour of duty included service on the USS Los Angeles (CA135) and a posting at Kodiak, Alaska as a cryptographer and tele-type operator.

After his return, Paul used his GI Bill to attend Baylor University, graduating the Class of 1957. Baylor is also where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Nina Griffies. They married in the chapel at the First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas on Dec 1, 1956.

Following graduation from Baylor, Paul and Nina moved to Houston. Nina continued her training and worked at Methodist Hospital Houston in the Medical Technology program, while Paul completed his Master's Degree in History at University of Houston. Paul's teaching career would start at St. John's School in Houston. Their first daughter, Audrey, was born in the years they lived in Houston.

In the early 1960s, the Hendrix family of three drove from Texas in a little black Nash Rambler, embarking on a West Coast move that was intended to be just for a few years, as Paul wanted to pursue a PhD from University of Oregon. They ended up living the Pacific Northwest for 30 years. In those years Paul taught at Annie Wright School in Tacoma, Washington. Soon, he would discover, his interests were in teaching adults at community colleges and even a men's prison. As life progressed, he worked for the State of Oregon as an adult education coordinator. The family lived and worked in a variety of communities in the Pacific Northwest. They lived in Eugene, The Dalles, Salem, Stayton in Oregon and Seattle, Tacoma, and Cheney in Washington. Their second daughter, Amy was born while living in Seattle.

In 1990, with both daughters married and moved away. Paul and Nina heard the call of Texas and family to return to their home state. They sold the little farm in Oregon and returned to Texas, where they would enjoy living in Garland and being closer to Audrey and her family.

As a second career in Garland, Paul went into business as an insurance and personal financial investment advisor.

Paul wanted to remember and honor his years and fraternity of the Masonic Home of Texas. He decided to join the Freemasons while in Oregon. His service and membership continued in the years in Texas. He served in Grand Masonic Temple of Oregon. Later, he would serve in the Hella Temple of Garland and the Scottish Rite of Texas. His heart was particularly touched by the fundraising for medical services provided by the Shriner's Children's Hospital. He found new camaraderie in the Skeet shooting gun club associated with his Masonic friends. He also looked for ways to help others, such as sponsoring students and families that could benefit, as he did, from schooling at the Masonic Home.

In their retirement years, finally Paul and Nina had the time to enjoy traveling with small cruise ships and tours in several parts of the world. They even visited their youngest daughter, and her family, who lived in Thailand at the time. Paul was known to be the type of person who would wander and explore a city on his own rather than go with the tour guide. He enjoyed the chance to explore by a long country drive or a meandering walk, just for the sake of the wander.

Coming from a broken home, Paul also had hopes and dreams of the type of close family full of tradition that one might see in the movies. Though not all his hopes lived up to that Hallmark standard, he did see his two daughters marry and raise their own families. He was so very proud of his grandchildren, knowing they were pursuing their own interests and education. All five of his grandchildren earned college degrees and have grown into their own lives and families. And he adored the visits with his young great-grandsons.

Paul and Nina made their church home at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, Dallas. He was often challenged and encouraged by those friendships in the Koinonia Sunday School Class. Nina sang with and enjoyed the church choir for many decades.

In Paul's 92 years of life, he had much to be proud of. As his family, we have much to be thankful for.

His final years were spent with his wife, Nina, residing at Monticello West Assisted Living Community in Dallas, Texas. Recently, Paul and Nina quietly shared their 67th wedding anniversary on December 1st, 2023.

In addition to his wife, Nina, Paul is survived by his children Audrey Hendrix Payne (Michael), Amy Hendrix Smith (Bryan), grandchildren Nicholas Payne (fiancée Laura Carrillo and daughter Elizabeth), Patrick Payne (Allison), Cameron Smith (Anne Schuster), McKenzie Smith (Max Youngblood), Kendall Smith, and 3 great-grandsons, Everett, Brayden, and Greyson Payne.



Honor and appreciation also go to the caregiving and nursing staff at Monticello Assisted Living Community, the Memory Care Team, and Helping Hands Hospice who provided Paul and his family with care, friendship, understanding and comfort over the past three years.

Paul has willed his body to UT Southwestern Medical School.

There will be a private, family memorial and celebration of his spirit in the year ahead. His remains will be interred at the National Cemetery in Arlington, TX.

Daddy, Papa, Paul -- Fair winds and Following Seas.