After a long and (re) productive life Paul B. Ehinger has been called home May 9, 2008. He leaves behind the love of his life his wife of 56 years, Jacilin along with 14 children, 51 grand-children and 25 great-grandchildren. Although historians may ignore Paul's influence on this world, it will reverberate through the ages in the influence he had on his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, future generations and everyone he came in contact with. Neither Paul nor Jackie realized that his pursuit of her while she was still in high school (and a waitress) would lead to branches unimaginable by many others. Paul was faithful to his Catholic faith and Jackie joined him in that faith before they married. Both agreed to accept as many children as God would give them and they never said it was too much. Anytime he was asked how they did it, Paul's answer would be one word: Faith. And that was the example he set for his family. Although it was always tight with a one salary household, we always had what was needed and every one of us went through 12 years of Catholic education. Dad and Mom believed in tithing and spent many years travelling to Catholic parishes to give their exemplary witness about stewardship. Dad taught us many life lessons as he was the first equal opportunity person we were acquainted with. We did not have chores that were exclusively male or female and we all learned how to do laundry, dishes, mow the lawn and put a roof on the garage. Boys changed diapers and girls learned how to use tools. We all were expected to pitch in and start earning our way with paper routes or part time jobs which we all had. Every Saturday Dad did what was called settling up with each of us. He started with the youngest and if it was an allowance that they received, or if they had a paper-route, he would show us how to balance profit and loss from our small business. From our allowance or paper route profit first came 10% for the church to go in our envelopes (that even the youngest had). Next was 5% to the vacation fund. After all, if it was a family vacation, then it should be a family effort. Then came savings 50% with the remainder being our spending money. Even though it was our spending money, Dad always asked us to consider whether we were spending it on something that was a want or a need. He taught each of us not only business sense, but also to thoughtfully consider what we were going to spend our hard earned money on. Dad and Mom never got tired of having children around and always shared what they had as they considered everything and everyone as a gift. They opened their home to foster babies and hosted numerous exchange students. Dad was the rock of our family. He taught us that no matter what, first came God and then family. There was not a thing we could do that would cause him to turn his back on us, and believe us, with 15 little Ehingers running around, we did plenty of things that would try anyone's patience. He also taught each of us, including Mom, to make up our mind and speak it as long as it was not going to hurt anyone's feelings. After Dad and Mom had dated for a little over a year Dad asked Mom what she would like to do her response was I don't care so Dad took her home. She was never that wishy washy again. Paul was the son of the late Eugene and Helen Himbert Ehinger and a native of Huntington, Indiana. He was a graduate of Huntington Catholic High School where he was known as Old Faithful. Paul joined the Air National Guard in June of 1948 and retired as a Major after 32 years of dedicated service. At that time he was still a young man and joined the Allen County Welfare Department as the personnel manager; he retired after 10 years of service. Not done yet, he took a part-time job at Saint Jude Catholic Church as business manager where he stayed for 14 years. Besides his wife Jackie, Paul is survived by sons, Michael - Houston Texas, Patrick (Terri) - Dayton, Ohio, Robert (Geraldine)- Huntington, David (Karen) -Indianapolis, Mark - Lexington, KY., and daughters, Mary Ehinger - Huntington, Lisa Tipton (Michael) - New Lebanon, OH, Cindy Olson (Skip) - Lexington, KY, Liane Carroll (Bob), Jeanine Skordos (Michael), and Ellen Bouillon (Tim), Theresa Hoot - Churubusco, Stephanie Berridge (George) - Brandon, FL, and Leslie Lord (Lee) - Frisco, TX. His daughter, Kathryn Skordos preceded him in death. He also leaves his siblings, Rita Bickel - Huntington, Arthur (Carolyn ) - Decatur, Delores Lambros - Phoenix, AZ. Paul's brothers Robert, Edwin and Richard and a sister, Eileen Carmichael, preceded him in death. Visitation will be Monday, May 12, 2008 from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 9 P.M. with a vigil service at 7 P.M. at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park funeral home, 1140 Lake Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Jude Catholic Church, Randallia Drive at East State Blvd., Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 10:30 A.M., with visitation 1 hour prior to the Mass. Memorials to Saint Jude Catholic School tuition assistance fund, Bishop Dwenger High School tuition assistance fund and Bishop Luers High School tuition assistance fund.

Published in Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and New Sentinel May 11 and 12 2008