Paul Newman

Paul Sidney Newman, 85, of Claud, Stephens County, Oklahoma, died Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City and is now present with Christ.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, April 11, at Velma Assembly of God with Rev. Travis Stewart and Rev. Jim Doan officiating. Burial will follow at the Claud Cemetery under the direction of Bailes-Polk Funeral Home. Visitation will be Monday, April 10, at Velma Assembly of God Church. The family will receive friends and relatives from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Paul was born September 2, 1937, in Claud, Oklahoma, to Wesley J. Newman and Pearl Estella (Barber) Newman. He attended Burrows School and Claud School and graduated from Velma-Alma High School in 1956 and then attended Cameron University and Oklahoma State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy. He served in the Army Reserves from 1961 to 1967. He and Francine Collier were married at First Assembly of God in Duncan, Oklahoma, on November 3, 1962. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2022. Paul was employed as a sanitarian for the Oklahoma State Department of Health for 30 years. His first work assignment was in the Oklahoma Panhandle while living at Guymon followed by working in Grady County and living in Chickasha. He was selected to appear in the 1968 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America and was honored as Sanitarian of the Year for Oklahoma in 1977. He was active in the Assembly of God throughout his adult years serving as deacon, church treasurer, Sunday School teacher, and as a leader in the Royal Rangers boys program. He retired in 1992 to their country home east of Velma.

He was an avid outdoorsman and his favorite pastimes were fishing, duck hunting, bee keeping, bird watching, gardening, astronomy, and tending his pecan orchard. He cherished spending quality time with his loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Allen Newman and Imon Newman, and sister Wynola Eaton. Survivors include his wife Francine of the home; daughter Paula Pettitt and husband Darren of Trophy Club, TX; son Brent Newman of Choctaw, OK; grandsons Parker Pettitt and Peyton Pettitt of Trophy Club; brothers Wayne Newman of Walters, OK and Philip Newman and wife Deanna of Claud, OK; sisters Mary Fern Stewart of Edmond, OK and Melva Hines of Sulphur, OK.

Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are David Snider, Jonathan Snider, Coy Stewart, Gary Carter, and Clyde White.