John W. Paul ("Jack") died April 23, 2014 at the age of 90. Born January 20, 1924 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, the 4th son of Bryan and Mary Paul. He was an accomplished baseball player in his high school years and played on several of the local American Legion teams. Following graduation from Tulsa Central High School in 1941, he continued playing baseball at the University of Oklahoma. His baseball career was interrupted by World War II when he joined the Army Air Corps, proudly earned his pilot wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant at age 20. He was deployed to England in June, 1944 where he was assigned as a pilot with the 490th Bomb Group, and he flew 35 combat missions at the controls of B-24's and later B-17's, many of them deep into Germany. He completed his military service as a flight instructor until his discharge from active duty in 1945.
Upon return to the States, he married his high school sweetheart, Jeannie Redden, and resumed his baseball career, playing minor league baseball for different teams in the New York Yankee farm system. After hanging up his cleats, he attended the University of Tulsa, and then helped start Redden Investment Company which he owned until his retirement. He was an avid golf player who was never shy to remind the others in his foursome that he was one of the few in his era to play from the "left" side of the ball, first at the old Indian Hills Country Club, then Tulsa Country Club, one of the first members at Cedar Ridge and then playing with the lunch bunch at Indian Springs, until his knees would not allow a capable swing. He was a loyal fan of the University of Oklahoma football program and for many years he seldom missed an OU football game whether home or away. He was a long time and serious sports handicapper of football and basketball; a longtime friend once said that John would go to his grave checking the point spread, a prediction that was only off a few days.
He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Jean Paul; his son John R. Paul and wife Marcia of Tulsa; his daughter Melinda Stimpson and husband Tom of Colleyville, Texas; 4 grandchildren, Whitney Randolph (Greg) of Southlake, Texas, Lindsey Griffin of Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Campbell (Rob) of Bozeman, Montana, and Jonathan Paul of Tulsa; 3 great-grandchildren, Cade and Cole Randolph, and Alice Campbell. Services will be at John Knox Presbyterian Church, Monday, April 28th at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Tulsa Historical Society. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com