Paul J Anders, 89, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at Hillside Country Living, Bryan. Born Oct. 21, 1918, at Pioneer, to Dessie A. (Justice) and George H. Anders, he married Velma L. Marten of Britton, Mich., on Nov. 4, 1939, and she preceded him in death in 2004. Mr. Anders was a Williams County resident for most of his life. A 1936 graduate of Pioneer High School, he was employed at Bohn Aluminum Mfg. in Adrian, Mich., as a pattern maker, when the country entered World War II. At the request of the War Manpower Commission in Washington D.C., he remained at Bohn to assist in the design and manufacture of aluminum propellers and other parts being produced for the B-17 and B-29 bombers. During this time, he completed a course at the University of Toledo, College of Engineering, authorized by the U.S. Office of Education, Engineering Science and Manufacturing War Training program. He later continued his education with classes at Tri-State University, Angola, Ind., The University of Toledo and Northwest Technical College in Archbold. In January 1954, he joined the Hays Albion Fifty Corporation in Bryan as a tool and die maker, and moved to the Fifty plus Five plant in West Unity as chief engineer when it opened. He retired in 1979. A member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Montpelier, he was a fifty-year member of Moose Lodge 312, Montpelier, and a member of the American Society of Tool and Manufacturing Engineers. At one time, he had also coached a Little League team in Montpelier.

Surviving are two daughters, Angie (and husband, Allen) Cryer and Lois (Rick) Baughman, both of Montpelier; four granddaughters, Lynne (David) Buehrer of West Unity, Lisa (Dean) Gericke of Brighton, Mich., Stephanie (Todd) Friend and Melissa (A.J.) Saneholtz, both of Montpelier; six great-grandchildren, Joshua (and wife, Melissa) Schaedler of Iowa City, Iowa, Jason (Amanda) Schaedler of Hudson, Mich., Mara Gericke and Kyle Gericke, both of Brighton, Mich., Brennen Friend and Bria Friend, both of Montpelier; three great-great-grandsons, Brock and Aaron Schaedler of Iowa City, Iowa, and Chase Schaedler of Hudson, Mich.; and a stepgreat-great-granddaughter, Anna Grant of Hudson, Mich. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, nine siblings; and a granddaughter, Jenny Baughman.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. in the Thompson Funeral Home, Montpelier. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Bruce A. Tumblin, of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, to officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church or the American Diabetes Association. -Bryan Times, November 6, 2007