Ralph Dean Paul

Ralph Dean Paul, age 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 31, 2025. He was born on October 2, 1937, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Ralph and Pauline Paul.
Dean gave his heart to the Lord at the age of 11, beginning a lifelong journey of faith and service. He was a devoted member of Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang, where he served faithfully in Vacation Bible School, AWANAS, Christmas Villages, and as a Sunday School director. He also greatly enjoyed singing as part of David Baker's Jemtones Choir.
Dean is survived by his wife of 12 years, Ann Duncan; his children Mona Avila and her husband Alfred, Bill Paul and his wife Stacy, and Joe D. Paul and his wife Leslie; and his sister Mildred Cohorn. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren: Bronn Gibson and wife Jessica, Shane Gibson and wife Amy, Chris Paul, and wife Daniela, Kevin Paul, and wife Sarah, Meredith McBride and husband Jarrod, Samantha Mullins and husband Cole, Miranda Warner and husband Brian, Mallory Ferias and husband Ernie, Callie Cazares, Cha'tae Nobles and husband Alex, and Michael Avila and wife Daisy. He was blessed with 20 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first two wives, Dixie and Joan, both from cancer; and his brothers Homer and Joe Frank.
Dean spent the first ten years of his life in Lazbuddie, Texas. In 1947, his family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, then returned to Hereford, Texas in 1951. His life was marked early by God's protection-surviving multiple life-threatening accidents as a child and young adult. Through each, Dean believed God was not finished with him yet.
A dedicated farmer, Dean moved to Perryton, Texas, in 1965 and began farming again. In 1968, he purchased his first land in the Texas Panhandle. Over the years, he expanded his operations, eventually farming 13,000 acres with his youngest son, Joe. He was recognized as Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year, served three years on the Farmers Home Administration loan committee, and was a member of the First Bank and Trust Advisory Board in Booker, Texas.
In 1973, Dean and a partner purchased North Plains Elevators, which received over 1.25 million bushels of wheat during a historic harvest year when Ochiltree County produced 1% of the nation's wheat. He later sold the elevator, built grain storage on his farm, and proudly named it North Plains Farms.
In the mid-1980s, Dean became a pilot and purchased an A36 airplane. In the 1990s, he operated two large-scale hog facilities and established the first individually owned confined breeding operation in the state of Texas. He retired from farming in 2001.
After retirement, Dean sold cars in Perryton before moving to Yukon, Oklahoma, in 2003, and later to Mustang, where he delivered parts for City Chevrolet. He also volunteered for six years at Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon.
On February 29, 2013, Dean married Ann Duncan-on Leap Day-joking that they were either married 12 years or three. Together, they cherished the simple joys of life: weekly card games with friends, Monday half-price hamburgers, Friday catfish specials, camping trips (even loading Dean's recliner into Ann's truck), and helping others in need. Their many garage sales were truly a ministry.
Dean and Ann supported Hope Givers International, helping build an orphanage and provide motorcycles for ministry work. Dean felt deeply blessed when God brought Ann into his life.
Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Givers International.