Paul was the fourth of six children born to Geoffrey and Lora (Martin) Ashburn and was an uncle to this contributor. On September 27, 1934 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, in a ceremony officiated by William D. Swan, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church he married Alberta Grace Paugh and they were the parents of Martha Diane Ashburn.
Prior to World War II Paul was employed at various times by the Spurgeon Transfer Company, Jenkins & Brown Funeral Service & the Frank E. Conners Dry Cleaners. During World War II he served as a PFC with the 29th Infantry Division of the First Army from November 1943 until August of 1945, serving in France from June of 1944 until January of 1945. While he was assisting with the evacuation of wounded men during a battle near Gilnel, France an enemy artillery shell scored a direct hit on 11,000 pounds of TNT stored in the area. Paul was injured severely enough to require evacuation to the United States & was eventually discharged from military service as a result of his injuries. He was awarded the Purple Heart & the Bronze Star for service beyond the call of duty.
Following World War II Paul & a few others formed a corporation as equal partners to operate a clothes cleaning plant named Imperial Cleaners. The business was successful but was not challenging enough for Paul & he eventually sold his share of the business to take other employment.
After leaving Imperial Cleaners Paul was hired by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company to supervise a portion of the reevaluation of property in Monongalia County, West Virginia for tax purposes. After the program was completed by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company, the state tax department recognized his ability by hiring him to supervise & continue the updating & evaluation of tax properties. Paul continued as a state employee until his death.
Paul & Alberta owned and operated a restaurant called the Rainbow Gardens, which was successful largely due to Alberta's culinary skills. She prepared shrimp from a secret recipe which she never divulged. The business was discontinued when she became pregnant after seventeen years of marriage.
Paul died at 59 years, 4 months, and 7 days of age and is described as having been almost totally bald when he died. He was a member of the Morgantown Lodge #10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Information received from Paul's daughter, Martha Diane Ashburn, indicates that Paul's middle name MAY have been MOOD rather than MOODY as shown elsewhere in various records.
Prior to World War II Paul was employed at various times by the Spurgeon Transfer Company, Jenkins & Brown Funeral Service & the Frank E. Conners Dry Cleaners. During World War II he served as a PFC with the 29th Infantry Division of the First Army from November 1943 until August of 1945, serving in France from June of 1944 until January of 1945. While he was assisting with the evacuation of wounded men during a battle near Gilnel, France an enemy artillery shell scored a direct hit on 11,000 pounds of TNT stored in the area. Paul was injured severely enough to require evacuation to the United States & was eventually discharged from military service as a result of his injuries. He was awarded the Purple Heart & the Bronze Star for service beyond the call of duty.
Following World War II Paul & a few others formed a corporation as equal partners to operate a clothes cleaning plant named Imperial Cleaners. The business was successful but was not challenging enough for Paul & he eventually sold his share of the business to take other employment.
After leaving Imperial Cleaners Paul was hired by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company to supervise a portion of the reevaluation of property in Monongalia County, West Virginia for tax purposes. After the program was completed by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company, the state tax department recognized his ability by hiring him to supervise & continue the updating & evaluation of tax properties. Paul continued as a state employee until his death.
Paul & Alberta owned and operated a restaurant called the Rainbow Gardens, which was successful largely due to Alberta's culinary skills. She prepared shrimp from a secret recipe which she never divulged. The business was discontinued when she became pregnant after seventeen years of marriage.
Paul died at 59 years, 4 months, and 7 days of age and is described as having been almost totally bald when he died. He was a member of the Morgantown Lodge #10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Information received from Paul's daughter, Martha Diane Ashburn, indicates that Paul's middle name MAY have been MOOD rather than MOODY as shown elsewhere in various records.
Paul was the fourth of six children born to Geoffrey and Lora (Martin) Ashburn and was an uncle to this contributor. On September 27, 1934 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, in a ceremony officiated by William D. Swan, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church he married Alberta Grace Paugh and they were the parents of Martha Diane Ashburn.
Prior to World War II Paul was employed at various times by the Spurgeon Transfer Company, Jenkins & Brown Funeral Service & the Frank E. Conners Dry Cleaners. During World War II he served as a PFC with the 29th Infantry Division of the First Army from November 1943 until August of 1945, serving in France from June of 1944 until January of 1945. While he was assisting with the evacuation of wounded men during a battle near Gilnel, France an enemy artillery shell scored a direct hit on 11,000 pounds of TNT stored in the area. Paul was injured severely enough to require evacuation to the United States & was eventually discharged from military service as a result of his injuries. He was awarded the Purple Heart & the Bronze Star for service beyond the call of duty.
Following World War II Paul & a few others formed a corporation as equal partners to operate a clothes cleaning plant named Imperial Cleaners. The business was successful but was not challenging enough for Paul & he eventually sold his share of the business to take other employment.
After leaving Imperial Cleaners Paul was hired by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company to supervise a portion of the reevaluation of property in Monongalia County, West Virginia for tax purposes. After the program was completed by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company, the state tax department recognized his ability by hiring him to supervise & continue the updating & evaluation of tax properties. Paul continued as a state employee until his death.
Paul & Alberta owned and operated a restaurant called the Rainbow Gardens, which was successful largely due to Alberta's culinary skills. She prepared shrimp from a secret recipe which she never divulged. The business was discontinued when she became pregnant after seventeen years of marriage.
Paul died at 59 years, 4 months, and 7 days of age and is described as having been almost totally bald when he died. He was a member of the Morgantown Lodge #10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Information received from Paul's daughter, Martha Diane Ashburn, indicates that Paul's middle name MAY have been MOOD rather than MOODY as shown elsewhere in various records.
Prior to World War II Paul was employed at various times by the Spurgeon Transfer Company, Jenkins & Brown Funeral Service & the Frank E. Conners Dry Cleaners. During World War II he served as a PFC with the 29th Infantry Division of the First Army from November 1943 until August of 1945, serving in France from June of 1944 until January of 1945. While he was assisting with the evacuation of wounded men during a battle near Gilnel, France an enemy artillery shell scored a direct hit on 11,000 pounds of TNT stored in the area. Paul was injured severely enough to require evacuation to the United States & was eventually discharged from military service as a result of his injuries. He was awarded the Purple Heart & the Bronze Star for service beyond the call of duty.
Following World War II Paul & a few others formed a corporation as equal partners to operate a clothes cleaning plant named Imperial Cleaners. The business was successful but was not challenging enough for Paul & he eventually sold his share of the business to take other employment.
After leaving Imperial Cleaners Paul was hired by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company to supervise a portion of the reevaluation of property in Monongalia County, West Virginia for tax purposes. After the program was completed by the Cole-Layer Appraisal Company, the state tax department recognized his ability by hiring him to supervise & continue the updating & evaluation of tax properties. Paul continued as a state employee until his death.
Paul & Alberta owned and operated a restaurant called the Rainbow Gardens, which was successful largely due to Alberta's culinary skills. She prepared shrimp from a secret recipe which she never divulged. The business was discontinued when she became pregnant after seventeen years of marriage.
Paul died at 59 years, 4 months, and 7 days of age and is described as having been almost totally bald when he died. He was a member of the Morgantown Lodge #10 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Information received from Paul's daughter, Martha Diane Ashburn, indicates that Paul's middle name MAY have been MOOD rather than MOODY as shown elsewhere in various records.
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