Paul Edward Chumbley, 99, died Friday, September 1, 2017 at Alpine Rehabilitation Center in Ruston, LA. Paul was born on December 23, 1917 in Winslow, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marjorie Chumbley; his parents, John and Lela Chumbley; and a brother, Glen Chumbley. He is survived by aContinue Reading
Paul Edward Chumbley, 99, died Friday, September 1, 2017 at Alpine Rehabilitation Center in Ruston, LA. Paul was born on December 23, 1917 in Winslow, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marjorie Chumbley; his parents, John and Lela Chumbley; and a brother, Glen Chumbley. He is survived by a son, Gary Chumbley and his wife, Linda, of Ruston, LA; a daughter, Darlene Redmon and her husband, Kevin, of Bowling Green, Kentucky; grandchildren, Lisa Winne and her husband, Chris, of Anacortes, Washington; Carrie Redmon of Nashville, Tennessee; and Brian Redmon and his , Jada Garber of Montrose, Colorado; a niece, Nancy Chumbley of Evansville, Indiana; and six great-grandchildren, Austin and Luke Winne; Lacey and Logan Chumbley; and Leah and Dylan Bookout.Paul grew up singing with his mother and prior to World War II, sang tenor with the Oakland City College Quartet, and regularly heard on WOW1 radio. While in school, he helped deliver milk from his father horse drawn wagon.At the outbreak of WWII, Paul enlisted in the Army Air Corps. While stationed at Adams Field in Little Rock, AR, he met Marjorie Harcrow. They were married on March 27, 1943 and made their first home at 500 East 21st Street in Little Rock.Paul was transferred to Kirkwood Field in Crookston, MN in August, 1942. He continued training in Greenville, SC and completed basic glider training course on March 2, 1943. Transferred to Randolph Field in San Antonio, TX, he continued his training on the Waco CG4A Combat Glider. Marjorie joined him upon his transfer to Sheppard Field in Lubbock, TX, where he graduated from mechanic school. He departed from Miami, FL on August 9, 1944 and 8,366 miles later after stops in Borinquen, Puerto Rico, Georgetown, British Guiana, Natal, Brazil, Accra, British West Africa, Karthoun, Central Africa, and Aden, Arabia, he arrived in Karachi, India on August 14, 1944. Paul served as a glider pilot in India, ferrying supplies to remote locations in support of the British operations there and bringing out wounded servicemen. The Waco CG4A was forty-eight feet long and had an eighty-four foot wingspan. It could carry a 3,750 pound payload that usually consisted of a combination of men, high-octane fuel, artillery pieces and jeeps. Prior to the arrival of the US Army Air Corps gliders, the transport of wounded soldiers from the battlefields of India took a month or more, resulting in high casualties. The use of gliders reduced that time dramatically, resulting in many saved lives. Paul served thirteen months in India, flying 33 combat hours. He returned to the US on September 26, 1945, passing through the Suez Canal and docking in New York. He left active duty on November 16, 1945, as a Second Lieutenant with the Asiatic Pacific ribbon, three bronze battle stars, and the American Defense ribbon. After the war, Paul worked for the Winslow Funeral Home before beginning a career in the floor covering business. He worked as a salesman for several floor covering companies before opening Chumbley Carpets with Marjorie in Owensboro.He and Marjorie raised their family in Owensboro, where they were members of Bellevue Baptist Church. Paul served as the volunteer music director at the First General Baptist Church of Winslow, IN and at the First General Baptist Church of Owensboro for a period of time. Late in life, Paul and Marjorie relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky and then to Ruston, LA, but they always considered Owensboro their home.Services will be at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home.Online messages of condolence may be made at www.davisfuneralhome.com.
An environmentally friendly option.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Thank you for leaving a condolence..
Your comment has been submitted for moderation.