Paul Cartwright

Funeral service for Paul Andrew Cartwright, age 87, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2014, at Walker Funeral Home in Gillette, WY with Rev. George Keralis officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 1-4 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home.Paul Andrew Cartwright was born October 11, 1927 to Royal and Dorthea (Kruse) Cartwright in Argo, MO. He passed away on December 22, 2014, at Close to Home Hospice in Gillette, WY of natural causes.Paul grew up in central Missouri near the small town of Bourbon where he graduated from high school in 1946. Later that year, he enlisted in the Army where he served in Japan in the occupation forces following Japan's surrender. After his honorable discharge in 1948, Paul joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, his employer until 1982 when he retired in Camdenton, MO on the Lake of the Ozarks. During his career, he started at entry level jobs and worked his way up to manager of telephone service for the lake area a rare achievement for someone without a college education.While on an out-of-town phone company assignment in 1950, he met the love of his life, Shirley Irwin, in Springfield, MO. They were married later that year. During their 62 years of marriage, they had two sons, Dan and John. After living in Camdenton, MO for 42 years, they moved to Gillette, WY in 2010 to live close to their sons and their families. Fellow residents of Primrose Retirement Community, their Gillette home, still talk of his exemplary care and devotion to Shirley as she battled Alzheimer's until her death in 2012.During his adult life, Paul was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather. He served the Lord in leadership and service roles in churches in each of the many towns where his job required his family to relocate. He loved fishing and gardening. Although self-taught, he became an accomplished wood worker, artist and wood carver. Paul was the ultimate handyman.Paul is survived by two sisters; two sons - Dan (Polly) of Gillette, WY and John (Marilyn) of Parker, CO; five grandchildren Paul, David, Andy, Nicole and Natalie; two step grandchildren Hillary and Alexander and three great-grandchildren Sam, Georgia and Charlotte. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, three brothers and two sisters.A memorial has been established to benefit the Close to Home Hospice for patient support. Memorials and condolences may be sent in his name in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the web at www.walkerfuneralgillette.comFuneral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716