Paul Everett McElhaney

Paul Everett McElhaney, 86, of North Ridgeville, passed away at his home on Thursday October 9, 2025. He was born August 8, 1939 in Cleveland. Paul grew up in North Ridgeville and was a 1958 graduate of North Ridgeville High School. He then served in the US Navy, and moved back to North Ridgeville in 1976.
Paul was a retired US Navy Nuclear Submarine Propulsion Plant Operator. He retired from the Navy in 1979 after 21 years of service. His long career in the Navy started in 1958 when he attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Base in Illinois. He graduated from basic training in 1958 and then attended Engineman A School, also at Great Lakes. In 1959 and 1960 he attended Submarine School and Nuclear Power School in New London, Conneticut. From April 1961 to February 1964, Paul served aboard the USS Thomas Edison. From February 1964 to December of 1967, he worked on the S5G prototype in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He then served on the USS Sculpin from January 1968 to August 1969. From 1969 to 1971 he attended Palomar College in San Marcos, California. From August 1971 to 1976 he served on the USS Hammerhead. He then worked for a short time at the Navy Recruiting and Orientation Center in Orlando, Florida, and then from 1976 to 1979 he worked at the Navy Recruiting District in Cleveland.
After his long and distinguished naval career, He worked at Triad Metal Products and retired in 2007 after 28 years with the company.
He was a member of VFW Post #9871 in North Ridgeville, where he was the Captain of the Honor Guard, American Legion Post 717 in North Ridgeville, US Submarine Veterans Inc., and the Fleet Reserve Association.
In his free time, Paul enjoyed golf and home repair projects.
Paul McElhaney is survived by: His wife of 64 years, Donnita; three daughters, Debra Brafford (Jerry), Patti Summers (Chuck), and Dawn McElhaney; seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Corey, Christopher, Erika, Trevor, Ashley, and Danyel; two sisters, Janice Hunt (Bill), and Nancy Hall (Bud, deceased); and one brother, David McElhaney (Sheila). He was preceded in death by: his parents, Herbert P. and Rose I. (nee Foster) McElhaney; two sisters, Sharon McElhaney, and Betty Alexander; and a brother, George McElhaney.
The family will receive friends on Thursday October, 16, 2025 from 9:30am to 11:30am at the Liston Funeral Home, 36403 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville. The Funeral Service will follow at 11:30am with Rev. Chuck Behrens officiating. The interment service will take place at 2:15pm on Thursday at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville.
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