Born in Ithaca, N.Y. and raised in Florida, Indiana and Michigan, Paul Richard Theroux was the son of longtime Michigan State University civil engineering professor Frank R. Theroux. Paul was one of six brothers and a sister who became the largest single family ever to all earn degrees from that school. Paul’s was in chemical engineering.
Paul’ college career – along with his budding romance with a high school sweetheart – were both interrupted when he joined the Army Air Force as a navigator and served in the South Pacific during World War II. While home one year on Christmas leave, Paul offered his bus seat to a young woman named Marjorie Withrow. When the seat next to hers opened up, Paul sat down – so engrossed that he missed his own bus stop. Instead, Paul got off at Marjorie’s several miles down the line and walked her to her parents’ house. By the time Marjorie agreed to a date the next night, the busses were no longer running. Paul had to hike all the way home but didn’t mind. In fact, on the way, he leapfrogged over several fire hydrants.
After his discharge, Paul and Marjorie, a kindergarden teacher, married in 1947. Two years later their first child, David, was born, followed by Gary in 1951 and Linda in 1954.
In a 1960 interview, Paul indicated that his great interests included 8mm home movie photography, folk music (he played guitar and sang) and tennis. The latter sport was one his Dad had taught all seven of his children and Paul turned out to be quite the lifelong champion, routinely, in his later years, defeating opponents half his age. Folks would say, “He’s got an old head on a young body.”
Another great interest was public speaking. Paul became a longtime member of and eventually held executive positions with the Toastmasters organization.
After his military service, Paul took what he thought would be a temp job in the insurance industry. That move turned into a career, as his top-notch work resulted in him being hired away by one company after another. Eventually he became an Executive Vice President of Industrial Underwriting at State Farm. All of those advancements meant frequent moves for the Theroux family, including stops in Westfield, NJ, Armonk, NY, New Canaan, CT and Bloomington, IL.
Paul and Marjorie’s longtime dream was to rent a motor home and drive around the country after he retired. However, just as he did, Marjorie died of cancer. A few years earlier, the couple had attended Paul’s 50th high school reunion – and it it they ran into Jackie Windahl, Paul’s former high school sweetheart, and her husband, who died on February 10, 1985. When Marjorie learned that her cancer was terminal, she suggested that, after her passing, Paul reconnect with Jackie. Marjorie died in 1987 and on January 10, 1990 Paul and Jackie were married. Paul got to spend 40 years with Marjorie and 20 with Jackie, who passed away in 2010.
Paul died quite peacefully in his home in Clearwater, FL on July 17, 2017. He was 94 and the last survivior of his six brothers and one sister.
As he lay dying, Paul listened to The Michigan State University fight song played from a CD. As the final note was heard, he breathed his last.
Paul’ college career – along with his budding romance with a high school sweetheart – were both interrupted when he joined the Army Air Force as a navigator and served in the South Pacific during World War II. While home one year on Christmas leave, Paul offered his bus seat to a young woman named Marjorie Withrow. When the seat next to hers opened up, Paul sat down – so engrossed that he missed his own bus stop. Instead, Paul got off at Marjorie’s several miles down the line and walked her to her parents’ house. By the time Marjorie agreed to a date the next night, the busses were no longer running. Paul had to hike all the way home but didn’t mind. In fact, on the way, he leapfrogged over several fire hydrants.
After his discharge, Paul and Marjorie, a kindergarden teacher, married in 1947. Two years later their first child, David, was born, followed by Gary in 1951 and Linda in 1954.
In a 1960 interview, Paul indicated that his great interests included 8mm home movie photography, folk music (he played guitar and sang) and tennis. The latter sport was one his Dad had taught all seven of his children and Paul turned out to be quite the lifelong champion, routinely, in his later years, defeating opponents half his age. Folks would say, “He’s got an old head on a young body.”
Another great interest was public speaking. Paul became a longtime member of and eventually held executive positions with the Toastmasters organization.
After his military service, Paul took what he thought would be a temp job in the insurance industry. That move turned into a career, as his top-notch work resulted in him being hired away by one company after another. Eventually he became an Executive Vice President of Industrial Underwriting at State Farm. All of those advancements meant frequent moves for the Theroux family, including stops in Westfield, NJ, Armonk, NY, New Canaan, CT and Bloomington, IL.
Paul and Marjorie’s longtime dream was to rent a motor home and drive around the country after he retired. However, just as he did, Marjorie died of cancer. A few years earlier, the couple had attended Paul’s 50th high school reunion – and it it they ran into Jackie Windahl, Paul’s former high school sweetheart, and her husband, who died on February 10, 1985. When Marjorie learned that her cancer was terminal, she suggested that, after her passing, Paul reconnect with Jackie. Marjorie died in 1987 and on January 10, 1990 Paul and Jackie were married. Paul got to spend 40 years with Marjorie and 20 with Jackie, who passed away in 2010.
Paul died quite peacefully in his home in Clearwater, FL on July 17, 2017. He was 94 and the last survivior of his six brothers and one sister.
As he lay dying, Paul listened to The Michigan State University fight song played from a CD. As the final note was heard, he breathed his last.
Born in Ithaca, N.Y. and raised in Florida, Indiana and Michigan, Paul Richard Theroux was the son of longtime Michigan State University civil engineering professor Frank R. Theroux. Paul was one of six brothers and a sister who became the largest single family ever to all earn degrees from that school. Paul’s was in chemical engineering.
Paul’ college career – along with his budding romance with a high school sweetheart – were both interrupted when he joined the Army Air Force as a navigator and served in the South Pacific during World War II. While home one year on Christmas leave, Paul offered his bus seat to a young woman named Marjorie Withrow. When the seat next to hers opened up, Paul sat down – so engrossed that he missed his own bus stop. Instead, Paul got off at Marjorie’s several miles down the line and walked her to her parents’ house. By the time Marjorie agreed to a date the next night, the busses were no longer running. Paul had to hike all the way home but didn’t mind. In fact, on the way, he leapfrogged over several fire hydrants.
After his discharge, Paul and Marjorie, a kindergarden teacher, married in 1947. Two years later their first child, David, was born, followed by Gary in 1951 and Linda in 1954.
In a 1960 interview, Paul indicated that his great interests included 8mm home movie photography, folk music (he played guitar and sang) and tennis. The latter sport was one his Dad had taught all seven of his children and Paul turned out to be quite the lifelong champion, routinely, in his later years, defeating opponents half his age. Folks would say, “He’s got an old head on a young body.”
Another great interest was public speaking. Paul became a longtime member of and eventually held executive positions with the Toastmasters organization.
After his military service, Paul took what he thought would be a temp job in the insurance industry. That move turned into a career, as his top-notch work resulted in him being hired away by one company after another. Eventually he became an Executive Vice President of Industrial Underwriting at State Farm. All of those advancements meant frequent moves for the Theroux family, including stops in Westfield, NJ, Armonk, NY, New Canaan, CT and Bloomington, IL.
Paul and Marjorie’s longtime dream was to rent a motor home and drive around the country after he retired. However, just as he did, Marjorie died of cancer. A few years earlier, the couple had attended Paul’s 50th high school reunion – and it it they ran into Jackie Windahl, Paul’s former high school sweetheart, and her husband, who died on February 10, 1985. When Marjorie learned that her cancer was terminal, she suggested that, after her passing, Paul reconnect with Jackie. Marjorie died in 1987 and on January 10, 1990 Paul and Jackie were married. Paul got to spend 40 years with Marjorie and 20 with Jackie, who passed away in 2010.
Paul died quite peacefully in his home in Clearwater, FL on July 17, 2017. He was 94 and the last survivior of his six brothers and one sister.
As he lay dying, Paul listened to The Michigan State University fight song played from a CD. As the final note was heard, he breathed his last.
Paul’ college career – along with his budding romance with a high school sweetheart – were both interrupted when he joined the Army Air Force as a navigator and served in the South Pacific during World War II. While home one year on Christmas leave, Paul offered his bus seat to a young woman named Marjorie Withrow. When the seat next to hers opened up, Paul sat down – so engrossed that he missed his own bus stop. Instead, Paul got off at Marjorie’s several miles down the line and walked her to her parents’ house. By the time Marjorie agreed to a date the next night, the busses were no longer running. Paul had to hike all the way home but didn’t mind. In fact, on the way, he leapfrogged over several fire hydrants.
After his discharge, Paul and Marjorie, a kindergarden teacher, married in 1947. Two years later their first child, David, was born, followed by Gary in 1951 and Linda in 1954.
In a 1960 interview, Paul indicated that his great interests included 8mm home movie photography, folk music (he played guitar and sang) and tennis. The latter sport was one his Dad had taught all seven of his children and Paul turned out to be quite the lifelong champion, routinely, in his later years, defeating opponents half his age. Folks would say, “He’s got an old head on a young body.”
Another great interest was public speaking. Paul became a longtime member of and eventually held executive positions with the Toastmasters organization.
After his military service, Paul took what he thought would be a temp job in the insurance industry. That move turned into a career, as his top-notch work resulted in him being hired away by one company after another. Eventually he became an Executive Vice President of Industrial Underwriting at State Farm. All of those advancements meant frequent moves for the Theroux family, including stops in Westfield, NJ, Armonk, NY, New Canaan, CT and Bloomington, IL.
Paul and Marjorie’s longtime dream was to rent a motor home and drive around the country after he retired. However, just as he did, Marjorie died of cancer. A few years earlier, the couple had attended Paul’s 50th high school reunion – and it it they ran into Jackie Windahl, Paul’s former high school sweetheart, and her husband, who died on February 10, 1985. When Marjorie learned that her cancer was terminal, she suggested that, after her passing, Paul reconnect with Jackie. Marjorie died in 1987 and on January 10, 1990 Paul and Jackie were married. Paul got to spend 40 years with Marjorie and 20 with Jackie, who passed away in 2010.
Paul died quite peacefully in his home in Clearwater, FL on July 17, 2017. He was 94 and the last survivior of his six brothers and one sister.
As he lay dying, Paul listened to The Michigan State University fight song played from a CD. As the final note was heard, he breathed his last.
Gravesite Details
Paul Theroux was cremated. The urn containing his ashes was placed upon the coffin of his first wife, Marjorie, and today they share the same gravesite.
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