On New Year's Day, Paul Wright Petersen was reunited with his late mother 34 years to the day after her passing and was greeted by many other loved ones on the other side of the veil. Over 97 rich years, Paul has gone by many names and titles, but his favorites were son, brother, husband, dad, friend, and 'grandpa teaser' (due to his big heart and ability to honestly tell every grandchild that they were his favorite).

Paul Wright Petersen was born on January 15, 1925, in Park City, Utah as the second of six children of Don and Rose Petersen. In high school Paul helped supplement the family income working at a butcher shop, at the movie theater, and helped his father deliver coal around Park City—more often than not in a sack on his back because of the depth of the snow.

Right after high school, Paul enlisted in the Navy. He served as a signalman on the deck of the USS Onslow , a seaplane tender that he always called 'The Mighty O.' The ship was involved in many missions in the South Pacific, most notably Saipan and Okinawa. During his deployment he kept in touch with the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen on a pair of ice skates—Patsy Ruth Gibson. When the ship returned from the Pacific, they could wait no longer and on October 15, 1945 the two got married and began a 76-year love story for the ages.

Paul and Patsy put the 'great' in Greatest Generation. It's hard to recall seeing one without the other. Paul was honorably discharged from the Navy and the couple returned to Utah. As a young husband and provider, Paul found work wherever he could. He worked herding sheep and then as a miner. Both jobs left him yearning for something that would better support the family.

Paul enrolled at Utah State University and received his bachelor's degree in education in 1950. He first taught middle school in Ogden, Utah until returning to USU to complete his master's degree in 1962. With a graduate degree, Paul moved his family to Cedar City, Utah to work at Southern Utah State College. Paul always emphasized the importance of education, and after 10 years in Cedar City, he listened to his own advice and packed up and moved the family so he could earn his PhD at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

While attending BYU for his doctorate, Paul worked for the American Fork Training Academy and was instrumental in starting the first sheltered workshop in Utah; a program that allows people with disabilities to work in an environment that protects their rights and meets their needs. With the workshop completed and his PhD in hand in 1972, Paul returned to work as a professor in Cedar City, where he taught in the vocation department.

Throughout his years of schooling, Paul supported his family with several jobs. Paul worked ski patrol in Park City and in Brian Head, and as a chicken and egg producer where the whole family spent many nights cleaning and candling eggs. Paul also served in the army reserve where he for 30 years, retiring at the rank of colonel. Upon retiring, his talent and love of the trades drove him to work for himself in homebuilding, vehicle rebuilds, welding, wiring, leatherwork, and in a small woodshop where he spent countless hours making Christmas presents. He built his last rental home at the age of 93, completing much of the work himself—and double-checking on everyone else's work (once a teacher, always a teacher).

"I'm not ready to cash in my birth certificate" was Paul's response whenever asked why he kept so busy at such a late age or when he was injured while working on a project. To say he loved life would be an understatement. If asked what his greatest accomplishments were, he'd tell you about his family.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Rose Petersen; his brothers: Ray (Carol) Petersen and Keith (Maxine) Petersen; his sister, Shirley (Bud) Hall; his daughters: Paulette Petersen and Connie (Steve) Garland; and granddaughters: Kristy Petersen and Wendy Wood.

Paul is survived by his dear wife of 76 years, Patsy Ruth Gibson; his children: Terry (Tiffany) Petersen, Jana (Kim) Leany, Marilyn (Matt) Wood, and Bret (Linda) Petersen; his brother, Blaine (Charlotte) Petersen; his sister, Donna (Dick) Kofford; 19 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to Paul's daughter, Jana Leany, for the selfless care provided to Paul and Patsy over the past few years and especially in Paul's final weeks.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Washington 10th Branch, 1500 East Ridge View Drive, Washington, UT 84780. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Washington City Cemetery, 300 Park View Drive, Washington, UT 84780.

Those who are unable to attend are invited to view the services remotely at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNE1Q_BjmdVgwjHGfj3dhGw

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St George Regional Medical Center, 1380 East Medical Center Drive, St. George, Utah 84790.

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/st-george-regional-hospital/about/give .

Paul W. Petersen Funeral Service Program