Paul R. Stear

Paul R. Stear, 86 a 40 year resident of Newark Valley passed away at his home on Feb. 6, 2008. Born on Jan 2, 1922 in Peoria IL to Richard and Helen (Schlatter) Stear, Paul was the seventh child and first son of their nine children. He had many stories about growing up during the depression and the frugality of those years were ingrained in him. Duty and service were the values and principles upon which he modeled his life. He proudly served in the US Marine Corps during WW II in the Pacific Theatre as a flight engineer/crew chief. He returned home to be employed by IBM starting as a field representative. Over his 24 years employment, he worked in product serviceability, cost estimating and market planning. Those early years with IBM had brought him to the Endicott area for school and then to Newark Valley when Lew and Helen Hockman, friends from the service, settled there. Getting transferred to the Owego plant opened the door to purchasing the farm he still lived at. Paul was a member of Speedsville-Newark Valley Masonic Lodge, #265 F&AM, a life member of the Shriners, a long time devoted member of Owego Rotary and named a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was also a member of VFW Post 1371, Owego. He is survived by his three children, Marjean, Paul and Frieda, his six grandchildren, three siblings, nieces and nephews. Pauls family will receive friends on Saturday, Feb. 9th from 10 am until noon at the MacPherson Funeral Home, 5 Whig St Newark Valley. A Masonic Service and additional tributes to Paul will follow at noon. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Shriners Hospital for Children 3229 Burnet Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3095 in loving memory of Paul R. Stear.