John Taylor Paul

John Taylor Paul , of Dunwoody Village, Newtown Square died Monday, December 10th of kidney failure. His first wife, Mary Louise Paul, died in 1989. He remarried the late Gretna Davis McKeighan Paul. He was born in Garret Hill (Rosemont) on January 29,1914 and lived there until 1965. He also resided in Bryn Mawr for more than 30 years before moving to Newtown Square. He was the son of Frank and Agnes Paul of Garret Hill, immigrants from England and Ireland, respectively. He is survived by his son, John T. Paul, Jr. (Maya) of Churchville, Md., stepsons James W. McKeighan III (Patricia), of Clarence Center, NY, David McKeighan (Rene) of West Chester, and Robert S. McKeighan (Donna) of Newtown Square. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Laurie M. Belanger, Leigh M. Hamilton, Lindsay McKeighan, Jennifer McKeighan, James R. McKeighan, Jonathan McKeighan and Jackson Coggins. He was a 1931 graduate of Radnor High School, where he was a member of the track team that won a gold medal in the mile relay at the Penn Relays. He started his working life as an office boy at the Bryn Mawr National Bank two days after graduating from Radnor High. He felt fortunate to get a job at the height of the Depression. He moved across the street when that bank merged with the Bryn Mawr Trust Company in 1954. He was the teller of the first drive-in window on the Main Line and was the Manager of their first branch in Haverford. There he once chased an armed man who had just robbed the bank, and identified the getaway car. He later became Treasurer and Assistant Vice President before retiring in 1979. He was a past president of the Montgomery County Banker's Association. He was an active member of the Bryn Mawr Businessmen's Association for many years and served as Treasurer. He served in the U. S. Maritime Service as a bosun's mate aboard a Liberty Ship during World War II. As a member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church for eighty-five years he served as Deacon and Elder, as well as Treasurer. When he moved to Newtown Square he became an associate member of the Newtown Square Presbyterian Church. He continued to drive himself to services until a few months before his death. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of Cassia Lodge 273 in Ardmore for 66 years. He was also a Shriner of the Lulu Temple. In addition, he was a member of the Optimist's Club of Ardmore, whose creed he followed in daily life. Growing up among the chauffeurs and butlers living in Garret Hill, he acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the old estates in the area and enjoyed telling stories about them. After retirement he traveled extensively with both of his wives. His oceangoing trips reminded him of his experiences in the Merchant Marine. His funeral was held at Newtown Square Presbyterian Church on December 15th and internment was at Lower Merion Baptist Church Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements were by Chadwick and McKinney Funeral Home. www.chadwickmckinney.com