Paul Donley

Paul Leslie Donley was born in Oak Hill, Ohio to Leslie (Leck) Donley and Valuria (Babe) Donley on September 24, 1931. He was the 5th child of 10 and grew up in a warm and loving family.

Paul loved the outdoors and spent many summers in the woods and creeks around the Oak Hill area with his neighborhood buddies.

He graduated from Oak Hill High School in 1949; where he had been on the football and basketball teams. After graduation he served in the US Army in Korea. After he came home, he married his high school sweetheart, Lois Summers and they lived in Portsmouth, Columbus and the last 35 years in Hilliard. They raised their family of 5 children and enjoyed camping and lots of trips back to Oak Hill to spend time with siblings, parents and grandparents.

Paul was a very hard worker and always cared deeply about the well being of his wife and children. He retired from Sears Distribution Center while he was still young enough to enjoy lots of walks in the nearby park with the family dog, Brandy. He and Lois enjoyed many activities and trips with the Hilliard Senior Center, followed the Buckeyes for years with Ike Reynolds Travel and in the later years found Gary and Joyce and the Jackson Company Travelers. They enjoyed many trips and made lifetime friendships. Paul and Lois celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in May.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ed, Elmer and Bobby, sisters Joyce, Belva and Zonie. He is survived by his wife, Lois, children Rita (Dave Dunham), Joe (Laura), Carol (Garry Scott), Roger, and Mollie (Mike Fast), grandchildren Garry (Marylia), Emily (Brian), Mariah, Matt, Andy, Jacob (Madison) and Samuel, great grandchildren Walker, Mattis, Israel, Imanuel and Henry, brother Buck (Joyce) Donley, sisters Mary Capehart and Deloris Barnhart, sister and brother-in-law Kay and Ed Whitt all of Oak Hill and many nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends from 2pm-4pm & 5pm-7pm on Monday, October 12, 2026 at the TIDD FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026. A service will be held 11am on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3500 Main St, Hilliard, OH 43026. In lieu of flowers, Paul would love donations made to his church, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Hilliard, OH.