Passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2006, in Camarillo, California. He was born December 5, 1916 in Bellingham, Washington, and moved with his family to Burbank, California, in 1926. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1935, where at the age of 14 he organized the school's first hiking club. Paul then attended Glendale Junior College where he majored in Journalism and in 1938 he was employed by the Los Angeles Times as a sports reporter. Paul graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors degree in Geology and a Masters degree in Geography and he was always an avid UCLA Bruins fan.
During WWII Paul joined the United States Army and trained in Colorado. He was then based with the 10th Mountain Division in Ak. Where they specialized in combat on skis. Paul also served a tour of duty in the South Pacific as a S/SGT. Where he was a Scout during the Philippine liberation. He was awarded the Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal.
Paul was a lifetime Sierra Club member and throughout his life he enjoyed snow skiing, hiking, mountain climbing and camping. With these outdoor skills, he climbed the highest point in each state of the continental United States, and was one of the first to reach Mt. Whitney's peak on skis. He appeared in a role as a mountain rescuer in the 1950 Patricia Neal movie Three Secrets.
In 1951 Paul married Claire Germain, whom he met at a Sierra Club dance. While raising their family in Burbank, California, they enjoyed square dancing and camping in many of the National Parks in both the United States and Canada. Paul also enjoyed working in his yard, tending to his fruit trees and vegetable garden. Pau l was employed by the County of Los Angeles as a regional planner for 33 years. After his retirement, Paul and Claire enjoyed traveling worldwide and continued their passion of square dancing. In 2002, they moved to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Claire Estes of Camarillo; his five children: son, Bob Estes of Burbank, daughter, Cathy Estes of Eugene, Oregon, daughter, Marilyn Buchanan of Palmdale, California, daughter, Janet Gibbs of Burbank, and daughter, Betty Estes of Burbank; grandchildren, Mike Buck, Sean Estes, Rhahn Gibbs and Justin Gibbs; and great-grandchildren; Holly Marie Buck, Ashley Mayer and Morgan Mayer. A Mass will be dedicated in his name at Padre Serra Church in Camarillo, on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006, 1:00 p.m., at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.
Published in Los Angeles Daily News on February 22, 2006
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