Business Owner

Birth: March 5th, 1929, in Richmond, Indiana

Death: July 20, 2010

Education: Paul graduated from Morton High (now Richmond Senior High School) in 1947. He went on to attend Earlham College. In 1964, he graduated from Indiana Mortuary College.

Career: After his father died in 1963, Paul took over his family’s funeral home, the C. Stircle Patterson Funeral Home, which was the only Black mortuary in Richmond. Paul’s family had a long history of running funeral homes. He was also a part of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. He also served as the elected Coroner of Wayne County for 16 years and as a Chief Deputy Coroner for over 18 years.

Community Involvement: He was involved in several organizations across Wayne County, including (but certainly not limited to) the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club, the Indiana State Hospital Advisory Board, the National Black Caucus of School Boards, the Board of Trustees of Bethel A.M.E Church, the Townsend Community Center, and the Richmond Civic Theater.
Awards: Paul received the Sagamore of the Wabash Plague, Indiana’s highest award.