Paul Mattila's Obituary
Paul Martti Mattila, 65, passed away on Friday, September 4, 2009 at his Millington home. Paul was born at Fort Devens, in Ayer, MA on December 19, 1943, the son of Paul and Dorothy Mattila.Paul entered the Navy after his high school graduation in 1961 as an aircraft mechanic stationed outside the country during the Vietnam War. While serving our country for four years in the military, he came to appreciate the benefits of discipline, the skills of teamwork, and the importance of doing a job with excellence.After being discharged from the Navy, Paul moved to Memphis and went to work for International Harvester for the 21 years. While working at International Harvester, Paul progressed to Shop Steward to Shift Committeeman to Chairman of the UAW Local Bargaining Committee and ultimately becoming a representative on the national level as a member of the UAW National Negotiation Committee and then to the Constitutional Convention Committee for the 25th Constitutional Convention for UAW – one of only twenty-six representatives selected from around the country.After the plant closing at International Harvester in 1986, Paul shifted his time and energies into small business ventures, community volunteer work, and legislative efforts promoted by the Shelby County Trustee’s office. He served in the Shelby County Trustee’s office since 1997 and was elected head of the office in 2008. While serving as trustee, Paul was an advocate for county taxpayers and senior citizens.Paul is survived by his wife, Margaret Mattila, four children, Martti Keith Mattila and his wife Michelle, Wendy Baldwin and her husband Michael, William Black and his wife Vickie and Tammy Mullins and her husband Pat. He also leaves seven grandchildren; Jessica Sidle and her husband Jason, Destiny Arwood and her husband Jimmy, Emely Pena, Joshua Lyon, Rebecca Kamerzinc, Bethany Strickland and Keith Mattila and one great-grandson Kasten Arwood.
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