Paul Stanley Fisher

 

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Paul Stanley Fisher, died August 14, 2023, at the age of 81. He was a man who loved God, his wife, family, and his fellowmen.

Paul was born at home on March 7, 1942, in Centerville, Utah to Marlow Lyon and Leone Parrish Fisher. He always said that one thing was very clear to him growing up in the home of Marlow and Leone Fisher was that they loved each other, and they loved their children.

“My dad indulged most every whim we had as children and teenagers. My dad was generous and caring to a fault. He worked hard at this job, earned a good living, and took care of our family. They made a good pair. Dad with his free-wheeling style, and mom acting as the dampening force behind him.”

Education was an important part of Paul’s life. But, if you asked him, it would rank 3rd in importance to what he truly loved which was his family and fellowmen. He thought math and computer science were the most important fields of study and always said to study anything else was a waste of time. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1963 and master’s degree in 1964 in mathematics at the University of Utah. He received his Ph. D in computer science at Arizona State University in 1969. His professional life took him from Manhattan, Kansas from 1967-1982 as the assistant, associate, full professor, and department head of the computer science department at Kansas State University to Tel-Aviv, Israel, to Raleigh, North Carolina, to Denton, Texas and finally to Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina as the RJR distinguished professor of computer science, where he retired in 2018 from teaching for 50 years.

 

Paul and Ruth first met in their 9th grade algebra class. He was there to learn, and she was there to chat with her friends. They later reconnected at their high school junior prom. They were with other dates, but they did dance together that night. They began to date in their senior year at Bountiful High School. He would pick her up every morning for school their senior year in his turquoise Volkswagen bug. He married the love of his life, Leah Ruth Call on December 26, 1960, in Centerville, Utah. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.  Paul often remarked that, “Ruth has been the strength in the family, and I look to her as an equal partner in the team. I have been blessed beyond measure by my wife.” Together they raised five children and had a wonderful life in Manhattan, Kansas. Being a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather were four things that brought him immense joy. “Who loves you the most?” was a common question that all the grandkids knew the answer to. It was Grandpa who loved them the most. A lasting memory for all the grandchildren was the trip after they turned 8 to Nauvoo, Illinois with Grandpa and Grandma. While learning about church history, they also enjoyed playing pioneer games, eating fudge and throwing lots of rocks into the Mississippi River. It still is a sweet recollection in the hearts of all 26 grandkids.

 

When Paul and Ruth were deciding where to move after 15 years in Denton, Texas, they prayed to know where they could be of service. They knew that North Carolina was the place to come. Paul and Ruth lived in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina for the last twenty years of his life. It was a wonderful place to live as they have many dear friends that have loved and supported them. As a family, we are truly grateful for all the wonderful friends and especially his grandson Jake who lived with and helped them in so many ways. All of their friends in North Carolina were the hands that helped and supported them as his immediate family lived out of the state and he couldn’t travel in his later years due to his health issues.

Paul was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The gospel was the foundation of his life. He had a firm testimony of the Savior, the gospel covenants, and eternal families. He enjoyed teaching the gospel, especially the lessons from the scriptures. He treasured the time he had to study and read his scriptures. He loved the people that he ministered to and frequently would drive to Virginia to get all kinds of fruit to share with them. He truly was always found in the service of his fellowmen.

When we think of our husband, dad, grandfather and great grandfather, we remember how important he thought each of us was to him. He looked forward to gathering at the beach in North Carolina each summer, a tradition that has carried on for 35 years, with all the family. It was a time when he would share his testimony, his love, often his famous money cake and countless trips to the shell shop and the ice cream shop. There are so many numerous and wonderful memories from those beach trips that have strengthened all the family.

Paul loved his cheese, the more random, the better. He loved going to lunch and dinner. That was always such a highlight that he enjoyed. Going to lunch was a way that he ministered to those he loved with good food, listening and love.

Paul is survived by his loving wife Ruth, King, North Carolina, his siblings, Silvia (George) Jutila, Fortuna, California, George (Ruth Ann) Fisher, Centerville, Utah, Bruce Fisher, Centerville, Utah, five children, Shelly (Steve Price), Draper, Utah and their children, Joey (Nicole) Vide, Kelly Vide, Jessi (Jason) Eldridge, Anson Price, Jenna Price, Emma Price, Howard (Colleen) Fisher, Centerville, Utah and their children, Jon (McKenzie) Fisher, Katie (Brian) Anderson, Maxx (Megan) Fisher, Ben (Hailey) Fisher, Jake Fisher, Julia Fisher, Amy (Randy) Clegg, Draper, Utah and their children, Kylea (Eric) Jensen, Josh (Kristina) Clegg, Aaron (Laura) Clegg, Tanner (Mikayla) Clegg, Haylie (Jacob) Theurer, Craig (Lisa) Fisher, Draper, Utah and their children, Eli Fisher, Sami Fisher, Lucas Fisher, Joelle Fisher, Mat (Kori) Fisher, Zug, Switzerland and their children, Malorie (Paul) Spencer, Sophie (Reinan) Lima, Grace (Matthew) Day, Olivia (Preston) Smith, Hugh Fisher, 26 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren and counting. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 1:00PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 121 Golf Course Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041.

This scripture exemplified who Paul will always be to those who loved him the most. We know that he loved us and he loved the Savior.

“… when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17