Ronald S. Paul

1923 - 2018

Ronald S. Paul

January 19, 1923-February 24, 2018

Dr. Ronald S. Paul, a former Director of the Battelle Seattle Research Center and President of Battelle Memorial Institute, passed away on February 24, 2018 at his home in Seattle. He was preceded in death by Margery, his beloved wife of nearly 73 years. He is survived by his daughter and two sons and daughters-in-law: Kathy Crosby of Issaquah, Washington, Bob and Susan Paul of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Jim Paul and Jeanne Morel of Seattle, Washington; and by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren in the United States and Canada.

Born January 19, 1923 in Tumwater, Washington, Ron graduated from Olympia High School and after military service earned his PhD in physics from the University of Oregon. He became a research manager for General Electric's Hanford Atomic Products operation at Richland, Washington in 1951. In 1968 he was named Director of the Battelle Seattle Research Center. He returned to Richland in 1971 to serve as Director of the Hanford laboratories and the Pacific Northwest Division of Battelle, and in 1973 moved to Battelle's corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio as Vice-President for Operations. In 1984, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Paul's personal values were formed early in life by the faith and work ethic of his immigrant parents, Adolph and Olga Paul, and fostered by his experience as an Eagle Scout. He met Margery Pengra at First Baptist Church of Eugene, Oregon, and they married on June 5, 1944. Both were continually active in their church wherever they lived. When Ron retired in 1988, they returned to the Pacific Northwest and made their home in Edmonds, Washington. Ron remained active in professional service, and poured himself into creating a beautiful garden, toys for his grandchildren, and a series of oil paintings.

Ron and Margery moved to the Skyline retirement community in downtown Seattle in 2011. They made many new friends there, and served as volunteers in programs for other residents. Margery died on March 11, 2017 after a brief illness, and Ron continued to live there peacefully until his death. The family is enormously grateful for the loving care and excellent service they received from the staff of Skyline. Ron's spirit of concern for others, deep faith, and sense of humor sparkled to the very end.

A memorial service will be held at Skyline, 725 9th Avenue, Seattle, at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2018.

Gifts in memory of Dr. Paul may be sent to Alongside Ministries International, PO Box 610, Langley, WA 98260 (or online, www.alongside.org), or to a charity of your choice.

Sign Ron's on-lineGuest Book at www.Legacy.com