Dr. Robert Paul

Fitting a hearing aid to help a disabled veteran, guiding his boat into the ocean near his "Brown Rug House" on Emerald Isle or wading into a Montana river to fly-fish, advising a young homeowner on the best shrub for a particular space, gently caring for an injured little donkey, mowing acres of pasture on his John Deere Green tractor, reading a book to a grandchild, throwing a slobbery ball to his black lab, peering into his telescope to find a constellation, delving into the tall stack of books beside his favorite chair, grinding beans for a perfect cup of coffee, reassuring a stranger at the grocery store that he was not actually Clark Gable. These are scenes from the life of Bob Paul, who died peacefully at Duke Regional Hospital on January 23, 2026.

Born on February 8, 1940, in Columbus, MS, Robert Grover Paul was the son of Robert and Sadie (Somerville) Paul. He graduated from Northside High School in Atlanta, where he played basketball and was affectionately known as Slimmo the Kid. He earned his BA and MS degrees from Vanderbilt University, then a PhD in Audiology from the University of Oklahoma.

Bob had a distinguished career as the Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the US Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, NC, and held an academic appointment at UNCG as well as the Duke University hospital system. His dual roles facilitated a longstanding partnership between the two institutions in clinical training and research, specializing in the advancement of hearing aid technology and tinnitus management. His contributions to audiological research were published in journals including American Journal of Audiology and Ear and Hearing.

Among many other career accomplishments, Bob served as president of the NC Speech, Hearing, Language Association; chair of the board of examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, receiving their highest honors; and editor with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

After retirement, he worked at Red Mill Landscaping and Nursery, eventually becoming sales manager. "Bob the Builder" proudly made A's in all of his classes in general contracting in order to build an impressive two-story barn to honor the love of horses of his wife and younger daughter. He and the family put up all the fencing. He selected and planted every tree and bush on their 14-acre farm, Pasture Prime, and could tell you all about each one.

Bob had a dry and clever wit, loved a good joke, and derived great pleasure in nature. A lifelong scholar and voracious reader of history, science, politics, religion, and horticulture, he was a lifelong advocate for human rights, animal welfare, the Democratic Party, and a card-carrying member of the ACLU. He was a true intellectual, a questioner, a learner and a teacher. He was a seeker of truth and fervent believer in social justice. He was deeply troubled by hatred, suffering, and cruelty in the world.

Bob believed in living by the Golden Rule. He kept a list of quotes from the Old and New Testaments summarizing our charge to care for one another, including these: "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Predeceased by his parents and his sister, Nancy, Bob is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Janice (Perrin) Paul, daughter Caroline Stutts (husband Danny Stutts); two children from an earlier marriage, Laura Paul (husband Paul Messsier), and Matthew Paul; and beloved grandchildren Ruby, Louis, Corinne, Harper, and Colton.

He will be deeply missed by his family -- including his adoring fur-covered companions Coal, Shane (from his favorite movie), and the ever-rotating house and barn cats -- and forever in our hearts.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Clements Funeral Service at 1105 Broad St, Durham, NC, 27705, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. followed immediately by visitation with the family. Memorial gifts may be sent to Plant a Tree via the link on the Clements website, clementsfuneralservice.com, Corporation for Public Broadcasting/WUNC PO Box 14900 RTP, NC 27709 or the Durham Animal Protection Society, 2117 E. Club Blvd., Durham, NC 27704, apsofdurham.org.

The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences may be sent to www.clementsfuneralservice.com.