Paul E. Gamble
Paul E. Gamble
Paul E. Gamble, 93, Columbia City, passed away at 4:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Fort Wayne.
Born Nov. 14, 1922, in Whitley County, he was the son of Omer E. and Opal Marie (Edgington) Gamble.
He has spent his entire life in the Whitley County area, growing up on the family farm off SR 114 south of Columbia City, along with his brothers: Duane, Doyle, Gerald, Dale and Verlin and sister, Waneta.
As a young boy, Paul knew the value of hard work and saved his money whenever he could. Unfortunately, when the stock market crashed in 1929, Paul lost all $12 he had been saving in his bank account. That did not deter him from being a hard worker and that was one of the characteristics he was known for, especially with the effort he put into helping with the Chauncey Street project of restoring the brick road.
When Paul was not working, he enjoyed playing basketball and loved playing baseball with his brothers. He graduated from Washington Center High School with the Class of 1940. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII and served in the Europe Theater. While in the Army, he met a young gal by the name of Arlis Dunn at Happy Valley Roller Rink. When he got home, the two were married Sept. 21, 1945, at First Church of God.
He went on to work for Dana Corp., Fort Wayne, for 39 years and was a member of First Church of God, Columbia City. With a love of sports, Paul was able to pass this on to not only his daughter, Sandra, but even to his grandchildren. He would take Sandra to the local high school sporting events and, as she got older, take her and her friends not only to the local games, but followed the teams as they competed out of town.
After becoming a grandpa, he found enjoyment of getting them involved with sports and loved to attend any of their sporting events.
When he was not watching sports, he would spend time woodworking, tinkering around the house and gardening and tending to his tomato plants that he was so proud of.
Paul enjoyed traveling, as he and Arlis would vacation at Myrtle Beach each summer and he visited every state besides Alaska and even traveled to Europe and the Holy Land twice.
Paul will be deeply missed by his loving family. Survivors include his daughter, Sandra (Paul R.) Kayser, Fort Wayne; four grandchildren: Kelly (Mike) Gomes, Sarah (Duane) Shipley, Sam (Melanie) Kayser and Elizabeth Kayser; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Arlis Gamble in 2007; brothers: Duane, Doyle, Gerald, Dale and Verlin “Buck” Gamble; and sister, Waneta Hesting.
Visitation will from noon to 1:45 p.m Thursday, Jan. 28, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City, with his funeral service to start at 2 p.m.
Burial will follow at South Park Annex Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife.
Memorial gifts may be given in Mr. Gamble’s memory to Wounded Warrior Project.
