Paul L. Wertz's Obituary
Lt. Colonel Paul L. Wertz was born November 14, 1920 in Greeley, Colorado to Paul and Hazel Ballew Wertz. In 1938, after he graduated from High School, he attended Northwestern University. On January 20, 1942, shortly after the US entered WWII, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. The following August 24, 1942 he married his beloved Doris. A few months thereafter he attended Officer Candidate School, then returned to the Air Corps for Aerial Observer School.While assigned to a Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, he was selected to study and become an Aerial Photo Interpreter. Most of his subsequent military career would be in functions related to this skill. His team was sent to the 20th Air Force in India and later to Guam to help support B-29 crews. After that, he returned to the States and was reassigned to training bases until WWII ended. He and Doris returned to Evanston, IL; he completed his final year for his BS at Northwestern University, graduated in 1947, and began working a civilian job. In September 1950 with the start of the Cold War and Korean War, he was involuntarily recalled to active duty, and served in Korea, followed by the Cold War and Viet Nam. Following those assignments, he taught ROTC at Memphis State for four years. Paul had started his graduate degree at the University of Omaha, and now completed the requirements and thesis at MSU, receiving his MA degree in June 1964. For his last assignment, he was ordered to South Vietnam for a year, which completed Paul’s active military career. On September 1, 1967 he retired from the Air Force in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. Following his Air Force retirement, Doris and Paul surveyed job opportunities, and found a civilian job at Union Planters Bank as Manager, Compensation and Benefits. He soon became a Vice President and later retired permanently on September 1, 1983. Doris and Paul enjoyed their retirement and did some traveling. Sadly, the day after Christmas 2005, Paul lost his beloved Doris after 64 years of marriage. Paul became partially disabled, so Janet remained at home to take care of her father. He passed away 6/25/2015. He is to be interred with military honors beside his Doris in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, July 2 from 1-2:30pm. A short Graveside Ceremony will follow after the visitation. He was a life member of the Military Order of the World Wars, and of the Military Officer Association of America. He held a lifetime certification in Employee Benefits from the American Society of Personnel Administrators. He was a founder of the Memphis Compensation Association. He was a Master Mason and a 32° member of the Scottish Rite. He was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution, past president of the Memphis Chapter of Sojourners and was a past commander of its Heroes of ‘76 Camp, as well as a member of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. He will be sorely missed. Donations can be made to the West Tennessee Veteran’s Home Inc. P.O. Box 655, Cordova, TN 38088-0655. You can visit the website at www.Veterans-Home.com
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