Kenneth L. Paul

Kenneth Lawrence Paul, 84, of Atkinson, New Hampshire, passed away on July 17, 2025 after a long and fulfilling life. He was cherished for his dedication to his family and his community. His loyalty, integrity, and generosity will be remembered well by all who knew him.

Ken was born on December 6, 1940, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, to Olive R. (Allen) and Lawrence C. Paul. He grew up in Waban before moving to North Andover when his father's factory moved to Methuen. He attended Bordentown Military Institute for 8 years, entering as a fifth grader and graduating as a Company Commander with the class of 1958. Ken was a Commerce and Engineering major at Drexel University. After earning his degree in 1963, he enlisted and served on active duty in the US Coast Guard. 1964 was a very busy year - he joined the Coast Guard Reserves, married his college sweetheart, and began a career that spanned more than five decades with Process Engineering, a cryogenic tank manufacturing company founded by his father.

Working for the family business was Ken's core identity. His father's influence loomed large in his life, and "the Boss's" strong work ethic was a consistent theme in everything Ken did. He was very proud of Process Engineering and its place in the Plaistow community. The 200,000 square foot factory was built in 1966 and employed 300 people at its height. Working closely with his father was a joy for Ken, and he was given a lot of latitude to develop his business philosophy of 'the customer is always right.' Ken was unwavering in his support of Process employees and he was proud to see multiple generations of families working for the company. He was highly involved in national organizations including the American Gas Association and the National Fire Protection Association, and he was a well-known figure in the gas business with over sixty years of relationships in the industry. After retirement from the successor company, Chart Industries, he joined Cosmodyne as a consultant and continued his love of customer interactions and industry conferences across the country.

Serving his community was a very important part of Ken's life. He joined the local Boy Scouts leadership council in 1971 and served as President from 1976-1977, earning the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service. After hearing a neighbor complain about the state of local schools, Ken decided to make a difference by running for the Timberlane Regional School Board in 1978. He served with distinction for twelve years and held the role of Chair three times. He was appointed to the NH State Board of Education by Governor John Sununu in 1984, served until 1989, and presided as Chair for a three-year term. Additionally, he proudly served for twenty years on the boards of two prominent local companies, Family Bank and the Essex County Gas Company. Ken juggled these responsibilities while also successfully running a business and raising a family.

Outside of his typical six-day work week, Ken's unwavering dedication translated to his love of golf and New England sports teams. He was a member of the Haverhill Country Club for almost sixty years and a Patriots season ticket holder for over fifty. Although he experienced the many ups and downs of these passions, he was always grateful for his own occasional birdies and the many championships won by his favorite teams. Stowe, Vermont was a special place for Ken and his family. He originally visited Stowe with his parents in the 1940s and he returned again and again, throughout his life, to enjoy the Green Mountains. Ken cherished his memories of skiing with his sons, playing in the annual Kirkwood golf tournament, and enjoying the Rec Path with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Dyer Paul, and he was forever grateful for her love and support. His world revolved around his sons and their families: Laura & Scott Kenneth Paul of Jackson WY and grandchildren Kathryn and Alex, and Davin & David (Paul) Wedel of Marblehead MA and granddaughters Stella and Lucy. He is survived by his sister Wendy Doughty, brother Douglas Paul, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Suzy Price.

Ken will be remembered and celebrated at the Haverhill Country Club on Wednesday, July 30th from 4-7 PM in the Redwood Room, where light refreshments will be served. The family will have a private burial the following day. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Atkinson Elder Services Transportation Fund in appreciation for the assistance given to Ken and so many others in the town where he was immensely proud to raise his family.

Checks should be written to "Atkinson Elder Services Transportation Fund" and mailed to Atkinson Elder Services, 4 Main Street, Atkinson, NH 03811