Paul A. Levernier, 98, passed away at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, in Indianapolis, after a brief illness.

Paul was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Denver, Colo. to Martin W. Levernier and Era Chambers Levernier.

Paul spent his early years in Winnetka, Ill. on his grandparents’ farm while finding ways with his brother to get to downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan to explore and to fish. At the age of 10 he moved to Huntington. He was a graduate of Huntington High School. Throughout high school he was on the swim team. Leisure time was spent at Lake Wawasee. He attended Purdue University and graduated in 1939 with a degree in Chemistry. He was a member of the Purdue University Swim Team throughout his college years.

Following graduation he briefly worked for Huntington Laboratories, then General Electric, in Kankakee, Ill., and DuPont before moving to Richland, Wash., to work for the Atomic Energy Commission helping build the atomic bomb during World War II. He returned to Indiana and Lake Wawasee after the war working at Levernier Laboratories, a company owned by his father. In the late ’50s he formulated an auto polish and related products and founded Custom Crest Auto Products. Always an avid fisherman, much of his retirement was spent fishing in Michigan, Canada and Alabama. He was an accomplished woodworker building cub cruisers and paddleboats, refinishing antiques, and designing and building many beautiful pieces of furniture. He was also a gardener and at one time a professional portrait photographer.

He was a past president and longtime member of Rotary International being named a Harris Fellow in December, 1980. He was on the board of directors at the State Bank of Syracuse. He was president of the PTA of Syracuse High School. He was very involved in the activities of the schools and the town of Syracuse. He was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his daughter: Shirley (Larry) Levernier Halbach; and son: Larry, Indianapolis; three grandchildren: Tim Halbach, Boston, Mass.; Tiffany Halbach, Indianapolis; Chris Bales, Syracuse; one great-granddaughter: Scout Avery Bales, Syracuse; a sister: Mary Jane Levernier Wiersch, Springfield, Miss.; a brother: Daniel C. Levernier, Milford; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife: Pauline Sunday Levernier; his daughter: Sharon Levernier Bales; two brothers: Lynn D. Levernier; and Robert W. Levernier; his son-in-law: Darrell Bales, and a granddaughter-in-law Elizabeth (Urban) Halbach.

Friends and family may call from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse. Services will be co-conducted by Pastor Wendy Piano and Rev. Carl Satre, at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, with calling one hour before services. Burial will be in Syracuse Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Turkey Creek Township EMS, The American Heart Association, or The American Cancer Society.