Paul R. Doris

Paul Doris Obituary

Paul R. Doris, 77, of Granada Hills, Calif., died peacefully in his home on Saturday, May 8, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late James and Marie Doris. He was a 1950 graduate of the former St. Jerome High School, Tamaqua.After serving for two years in the Army during the Korean War, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Large, forming a union that lasted 55 years and produced three children.
In 1955, Paul and Alice moved to California to attend college. In 1964, he received his master's degree in history.
He taught history and mathematics for 34 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
He loved fishing, camping, basketball and coaching his children's softball teams.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Richard, and his wife, Sandra, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; two daughters, Clare, wife of Keith Taft of Santee, Calif., and Alicia, wife of David Lopez of Rialto, Calif.; a brother Robert, and his wife, Doris, of Hamilton, N.J.; two sisters, Anne Curvey and Jean McClafferty, both of Tamaqua; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, James, John, William and Joseph; and a sister, Marie Tessitore.

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Published by Times News on May 13, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Doris

9 Entries

Ginger Wilson

May 20, 2010

My deepest sympathy go to the Doris family. I lived next door to them for 26 years. One of my fondest memories of Mr Doris was sitting on a boat in Utah with him and my brother and it was raining cats & dogs. He taught me how to throw a softball and tutored me in history. He was a second dad to me. He was alway there for me and my entire family. I will truly miss him. May he rest in peace with God
Love Ginger

May 20, 2010

it is with deepest regret that i write this to the family. He was like a father to me. even though i have one Mr. Doris was a daily part of my life for over 30 years and part of my kids life as well. He was always there with a warm smile. I will miss his laugh the most.god bless you and you whole family. may he rest in peace. love janie irwin gill sparks nv

Pat and Harold Irwin

May 19, 2010

We were neighbors for 46 years and in many ways closer than family.We raised our children by sharing babysitting for each other. Paul and Harold renovated and remodeled our homes together over the years. He was always there when there was a need. God bless you and your family.

janie gill

May 19, 2010

this is for the entire family. love janie

Richard Doris

May 16, 2010

Eulogy delivered 5-14-2010 during the service at San Fernando Mission Church, San Fernando, CA.

My name is Richard Doris. I am the oldest of my parents’ three children. I want to tell you something of our father’s life. He was born 77 years ago, the seventh of nine children. He was born in a coal mining town in northeastern Pennsylvania. His father was a miner. Our grandfather was ill for a good part of my father’s life, and he died when my dad was 16 years old. The Great Depression hit his area and his family very hard. My father had a very strong, life-long work ethic. At the young age of 6, he and his older brother Bob sold chances to help support the family. A few years later, he had his own paper route that he maintained through high school. He and his brother would often walk the train tracks, picking up the coal that spilled out. They bagged and sold the coal. Most of the money from all these endeavors went to support the family.

After two years in the Army during the Korean War, he married his high school sweetheart, our mother, forming a union that lasted 55 years. I’m not saying that the newlyweds were eager to leave Pennsylvania, but they left for California on their wedding day. After graduating college, he began a teaching career that lasted for 34 years. To this day, when people learn my last name, they ask me, “Was your father a teacher?” My sisters and I had a very special childhood. When both your parents are teachers, you get to spend more time with them than the average child does. We all had the same vacation schedules. We enjoyed summer trips to the east to see where our relatives lived. We crossed the country many times by car and train. We also went camping several times each year.

While I’m sure it rains in the daytime in Pennsylvania, I have no memory of that. It always rained at night, with very loud thunder and great lightning streaks. My mother and sisters stayed indoors, but my father and I would sit on the front porch to watch the storm. He told me many stories of his life in Pennsylvania. For example, when he dated my mother, he had to walk from his home the length of the town to pick her up at her home. Then they walked together back into town to a movie. He then walked my mother back to her house and had to walk back through town to get to his house. A date with my mother was about a six-mile hike, on top of walking a paper route in the morning. I guess he really liked her.

Our father had a very complete and satisfying life. After he became ill, radiation was tried in an effort to restore his strength and mobility. I had told many coworkers and friends about his illness. Many people asked me what my father would do if the radiation bought him some time. I told them that my father did not have a bucket list. He would spend any time he was given at home with his family. He had done all the things he had wanted to do in his life. He loved fishing, camping, and basketball, but most of all spending time with his family. I feel that to die at 77, our father had an abbreviated life. However, he had a very full, productive, and extremely happy life. He influenced many people, and our family thanks all of you for joining us in celebrating his life.

THOMAS DRAGERT

May 14, 2010

MY CONDOLENSES TO THE DORIS FAMILY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETNG AND GETTING TO KNOW PAUL WHEN HE AND ALICE CAME TO VISIT HIS BROTHER AND MY MOTHER IN HAMILTON NJ.. HE WAS KIND INTELLIGENT AND JUST A GOOD PERSON. HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL TO INCLUDE HIS BROTHER ROBERT AND SISTER IN LAW DORIS. TOM AND SUSAN DRAGERT HAMILTON NJ

Cyril J. Carroll

May 13, 2010

My sympathy to the Doris Family. I was a friend of Paul and his wife Alice during their high school days at St. Jerome's in Tamaqua, PA. I have not been in contact with Paul and Alice since they left Tamaqua in 1955. Paul and I were team mates on our high school basketball team. I always will remember his gentle and kind personality. God bless all of his family and my prayers will be with you.

May 13, 2010

My deepest sympathy to the family.

I had Mr. Doris for 8th grade math in spring'66 at Sequoia Jr. High. He was a great teacher. I remember him as being patient, friendly, and helpful.

Jimmy Loon

Robert Binns

May 13, 2010

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Paul. I was a student of his at Sequoia Jr High in the early 70's. He was a great teacher and mentor for someone at my age. I last spoke to him at the 'closing' ceremony of Sequoia in 1984.
He will definitely be missed!

Regards,

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