Paul Brunswick

1939 - 2025

Paul L. Brunswick of Cary North Carolina died on November 4, 2025 from complications after a heart procedure. Paul, the son of Elmer & Belinda (Fullenkamp) Brunswick, was born in Celina, Ohio on October 25, 1939. His parents were both from large farming families in Mercer County, Ohio. Paul spent his first 14 years on his family's farm and was always grateful for inheriting the ethic of hard work and responsibility, mainly from the twice daily milking of cows, which he always attributed as his primary motivator to earn a college diploma.

Paul graduated from Greenville High School (Ohio) in 1957 and played high school football and baseball, as well as American Legion baseball. After high school, he enlisted for four years in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Cryptographer in USAF Security Service with tours at Wheelus AFB in Tripoli Libya and the Pentagon. While in the USAF, Paul earned a year of college credits at the University of Maryland. Upon his discharge in 1961, Paul enrolled at Ohio State University where he met the love of his life, Ann Wallace, from Willoughby, Ohio. They were married in June of 1963, and both received their bachelor's degrees in June of 1964.

When Paul's dream of earning a baseball scholarship at OSU did not materialize, he dropped baseball and landed an accounting job at the local Owens Illinois glass plant to fund his education. Paul later earned an MBA in Finance from Ohio State in 1970.

Paul spent his entire career as a financial executive with several companies starting with Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio) in 1964 and ending with his retirement as CFO of GoodMark Foods in 1999. In the 1990's he served two terms as President of the Northern Carolina Chapter of the Financial Executives Institute. After his retirement from GoodMark in 1999, Paul served as an angel investor and management advisor to CEOs of start-up companies. He also served on the Boards of Waste Industries, The Pantry, LoneSource, VTflex, and Beroe Inc. Paul went into real retirement in 2017 at age 78.

During their 62 years of marriage, Paul and Ann lived in Columbus Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Rochester New York, and Cary NC before moving into Glenaire CCRC in 2018. Paul was active in community service and charitable activities in each of these cities and served on the Boards of Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts, Life Experiences and Wake Med Foundation. He also coached in Little league, YBA, and Pop Warner. Paul and Ann earned lifetime membership in the President's Club of the Ohio State University.

Paul was an avid golfer and has been an active member of MacGregor Downs since 1987, serving on the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. He was a lifetime supporter of the Cincinnati Reds and his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes and shared these passions with his wife, children, their spouses, in-laws, and grandchildren. Other hobbies included travel, following professional golf, reading non-fiction (mainly biographies and historical accounts), and following politics.

Paul was predeceased by his parents, his younger sister, Joyce Bruns, and an older brother, Maurice Brunswick. He is survived by three siblings, Betty Schoenlein, Kenneth Brunswick, and Jerome Brunswick. He is also survived by his wife, Ann and their three children, Julie and husband Stuart Sherk of Cary, Jeff and wife Kate Brunswick of Columbus, Ohio, and Michael Brunswick of Cary and five grandchildren.

The family will hold a memorial service and reception for family and friends at Glenaire CCRC, 4000 Glenaire Circle, in Cary NC 27511 at 2:00 p.m. on November 14th, 2025. The family requests no flowers and suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions could be made to The USO online or mail to: USO 1240 East Andrews Street, Bldg 3705, Seymour Johnson AFB, 27531.