Paul C. Rea, devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away on October 4, 1999 at the age of 72.

Paul was born August 7, 1927 in Buffalo, Missouri.

He was raised in St. Louis.

He served 11 months in the U. S. Navy at the end of World War II and was drafted into the Army during the Korean War.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Westminster College, Missouri and a B.A. in geology from the University of New Mexico.

He married Nancy Lee Vann on December 16, 1955; she preceded him in death in 1993.

On January 25, 1997 he married Sandy Landua.

He worked for Humble Oil and Refining Company as a geologist from 1957 to 1962, at which time he moved to Midland to become an independent. In the 1980s he formed Spectrum 7 Energy Corporation with Bill DeWitt, Jr. and George W. Bush. It was later merged with Harken Oil. He was involved with numerous oil and gas discoveries in the Permian Basin including a significant extension to the Gomez Ellenburger Field at Fort Stockton.

Paul was an active community volunteer, serving on the following boards: Midland Memorial Hospital, Clearview Hospital, Central YMCA, Metropolitan YMCA, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Trinity School of Midland, Midland Symphony and Chorus Association, Midland Community Trust, Family Wellness Center, University of Texas Permian Basin Development Board, and the Beal Foundation. He was a founding member of Hospice of Midland. He was honored with a lifetime membership in the United Way of Midland, where he had served as general campaign chairman in 1972 and as president in 1973 and 1984. In 1996 he received the Outstanding Volunteer Fund Award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.

He was a member of numerous professional organizations.

He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, having served as Sunday School superintendent, Stewardship Chairman, Junior and Senior Warden.

At the time of his death he was Vice President of Membership for the Midland Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of the Holy Trinity "Imagine Our Future" expansion fund.

Paul is survived by his wife, Sandy; a son, Jeffrey Rea and his wife, Amy and their children, Anna Lee, Patrick Walsh and Charles Aubrey of Dallas; a daughter, Lisa Rea Moore of Midland; and a son, Michael Rea of Arizona. He is also survived by his father, Paul Rea of Buffalo, Missouri and his brother, Charles Rea of St. Louis, Missouri.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity. The interment will be at 10 a.m. at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Honorary pallbearers are Frank Cowden, Barry Beal, Allen Whitman, Tom Wageman, Charles Tighe, Tevis Herd, Tom Brahaney, Harry Miller, Orman Hubbard and Ken Williams.

Memorials may be made to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity Building Fund, 1412 West Illinois Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701.