Paul R. Caraway 1915-2008

Well, it's been a very tough couple of days for our family. On Thursday, sometime after 8 in the morning, my grandfather had a heart attack and passed away after 93 great years. He was my mom's dad and I was lucky enough to grow up my entire life living 2 doors down from him. Luckily God took him quick and peacefully while he was sleeping in his rocking chair with his newspaper and dog still on his lap. We will all miss him but he left us with countless memories (including an autobiography, joke, and poem book all written by himself) that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Please say a prayer for our family, especially for my mom and grandmother. Here is the obituary that was in today's paper...

WARREN - Paul R. Caraway, 93, of Warren, died at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008, at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital emergency room.

Paul was born July 2, 1915 in Beard, W.Va., the son of Tempest and Edith Shafer Caraway.
A Warren area resident since 1931, coming from Renick, W.Va., he was a 1933 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School and attended Ohio University. He worked for Republic Steel Corp. for 18 years and for Copperweld Steel for 22 years, retiring in 1975 as general superintendent of operations and maintenance. He belonged to the American Society of Metals for many years, was on the trust fund committees for both hourly and salaried employees and was active with the Copperweld retirees group.

Paul was involved in numerous civic activities having served on the board of St. Joseph Hospital, was a board member and president of the United Way board, and was president of the Trumbull County Council on Alcoholism. He was an active member of Central Christian Church where he was a deacon and elder emeritus. He was a board member and vice president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, chair of the special gifts committee for the Heart Fund drive, past president of the Northwest Citizens Committee, past president of the Dickey Avenue PTA, and a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity.

Paul served as 6th Ward city councilman, councilmanat-large, and was the first 8th Ward Councilman in the City of Warren. He served on the Task Force on Violent Crime and was chairman of the Warren City Traffic Commission. He served as chairman of the fiscal analysis committee appointed by Mayor Richards. He also was on the Zoning Commission and the transportation committee, as well as serving as chairman of the income tax levy committee. He initiated ordinances establishing school traffic guards and truck routes through the city. Paul served on the fair housing committee under Mayor Schryver and was appointed by Congressman Carney to serve on the Mahoning Valley Labor-Management Committee. He also served on the Civil Rights Commission and fund-raising levy committees for the Mental Health board and Hillside Hospital.

He enjoyed bowling and was the longest continuous member of the Warren Church League - more than 50 years, and bowled in the Senior League at Freeway Lanes.

Paul was a devoted husband, father, and granddad. His grandchildren were his pride and joy and his family meant everything to him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Staines Caraway, whom he married Nov.8, 1938; son Richard P. Caraway of Warren; daughter Adria J. (Joseph) Musick Jr. of Warren; and three grandchildren, Brian, Jamie and Jeffrey Musick. He also leaves a brother, Wray (Virginia) Caraway of Rome, Ohio; a sister Ruth (Charles) Morris of Huntington, W.Va., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Doris Caraway.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at Roberts-Clark Chapel where friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Caroline Bloomfield and the Rev. James Baer will officiate. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

To view this obituary online or send condolences go to http://www.robertsclarkchapel.com/