Paul Rundle

Paul Rundle of Brady, NE, died peacefully at his home on December 26, 2018, 8 days after his 91st birthday.

Born December 18, 1927 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Paul was the second child of William Afred and Elsie Mae (Heuer) Rundle.  His father, “Bill” was a carpenter and a veteran having served in France during World War I.  Paul grew up in the Parsons Primitive Methodist Church and attended public schools in Wilkes-Barre.  During High School he worked for local markets and at the Wilkes-Barre Public Library.  After graduating from Coughlin High School in early 1945, Paul enrolled in Pre-Engineering classes at the Bucknell Univ. Jr. College in Wilkes-Barre.

Within days of his 18th birthday, Paul enlisted in the U. S. Army and entered into active duty in February 1946. Following basic training at Ft. Knox, KY, Paul was assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cav. Division in Japan where he served in the Army of Occupation during 1946 - 47, rising quickly to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Upon his honorable discharge, Paul, like so many of the dwindling Greatest Generation, went back to college, pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Nebraska.  While in Lincoln, he worked at Hermes’ Restaurant and later met the love of his life, Molly Dee Brittenham, of Brady, at the Wesley Foundation.  Following their graduation, Paul and Molly were married at the Brady Methodist Church on September 30, 1951.  They moved to Catonsville, MD near the place of Paul’s new job with the Westinghouse Electrical Corp.

Through the 1950’s and 60’s Paul worked at various positions of ever-increasing responsibility at various Westinghouse defense contracting facilities in the Baltimore area.  At the same time, he and Molly raised three sons:  Dean, Don and Doug.  To those boys, Paul imparted his values of integrity, honor, hard work, and love of family, God, country and fishing and football.  During the 70’s and 80’s Paul rose through the company to become a General Manager and Vice-President of the Corporation with assignments in Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, IN, and Morristown, NJ.  His responsibilities broadened from defense contracting into the construction and elevator lines of business.  In his many assignments he traveled the world for Westinghouse, from Iran and Israel to Ecuador and Trinidad.

Paul retired from Westinghouse in 1988 after 35 years of service.  He and Molly retired first the Smith Mountain Lake, VA and then on to Brady in 1998 where they settled back on the small ranch where Molly had grown up.  Paul loved fishing, football and travel.  He took his family seemingly everywhere, from tent camping trips when the boys were small and trips to many National Parks throughout the country.  After retirement, Paul and Molly traveled the world, to Europe, the Holy Land, Russia, and China.  In later years, they loved to cruise and sailed to many destinations from Alaska and Hawaii to the Mediterranean and Baltic to around the Horn of South America.  They took each of their grandchildren 16th Birthday cruises.

Paul always served his church and the community where he lived.  He was active in the Methodist churches in every location he lived.  He received the Silver Beaver Award for his service the Boy Scouts in the Baltimore area; he was long an active member of the Brady Lions Club.  He loved football; was a charter season ticket holder with the old Baltimore Colts and for over a decade, after moving to Brady, he drove to Lincoln for every home game of his beloved Cornhuskers.

Paul was tenacious when facing adversity.  He overcame a devastating stroke in 1993, working hard to re-teach himself to walk, talk, and fish again. In that way, a kind and loving husband and father was as tough as nails.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Elsie Rundle, his older brother Bill, and younger sister Barbara, and his grandson Tanner.  He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Molly, his sons:  Dean (Janice) of Nederland, CO; Don (Theresa) of Waynesboro, PA; and Doug (Nancy) of Fayetteville, AR, along with 6 grand children: Heather, Amber, Zachary, Molly, Michael, and Emily, and 10 great-grand children.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Sunday, December 30, 2018, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm with the family present from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held at Brady United Methodist Church, 301 Market Street, Brady, NE 69123, Monday,  December 31, 2018 at 2:30 pm with Pastor Arun Peters officiating.

Interment will follow in the Brady Cemetery, Brady, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Brady United Methodist Church, Brady, NE 69123, Brady Fire & Rescue, PO Box 31, Brady, NE 69123, or Central Plains Home Health & Hospice, 300 E 12th Street, Cozad, NE 69130.