Lillian Louise Ryan Paul

Lillian Louise Ryan Paul, born May 15, 1918 died Sunday, September 2, 2012 at the age of 94 at her residence. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 6, 2012, 5-8 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home 3155 Dauphin Street with a graveside service on Thursday, September 7, at 11 a.m. in Pine Crest Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway. Dr. Charles Brown will officiate. A native and lifelong resident of Mobile, AL, she attended school at Lienkauf Elementary, Barton Academy, and Murphy High School, graduating in 1937. During her youth in the 1930s, she was an avid motorcyclist, riding on Harley Davidsons with her late father, William Joseph "Pop" Ryan, and her late mother, Lillian Louise Nathan Ryan, who rode in the sidecar, and traveling on tours of the Gulf Coast with the Mobile Motorcycle Club. After her graduation from Murphy High School she was employed with Chin Laundry in Mobile as an assistant branch manager. During World War II, she was employed as a postmistress at the main branch of the U.S. Postal Service. After World War II she was employed as branch manager of Sam Joy Laundry on Broad Street in Mobile. She married the late Lonnie Dee Paul, originally of Allen, Alabama, in 1949 in Mobile and subsequently dedicated herself to homemaking and raising her three children. They were married until his death in 1987. She was a member of Dauphin Way Baptist Church in her youth and for more than 60 years was a member of West End/ Government Street Baptist Church where she was a active member for many years of her beloved BYKOTA Sunday School Class. She is survived by sons, William Dee Paul of Mobile, AL and Kenneth Eugene Paul (Deborah Tindle Paul) of Satsuma, AL; daughter, Rebecca Louise Paul Florence (David Michael Florence) of Tuscaloosa, AL; former daughter-in-law, Cindy Minto Paul of Mobile, AL; grandchildren, Ryan Christopher Paul (Kelly Nichole Ray), Katherine Louise Paul, Jennifer Lynne Smitherman; Dustin Dakota Smitherman; and Tucker Robert-Wylie Paul; brother-in-law, James Percy "Bud" Paul of Chattanooga, TN; sister-in-law, Jewel Paul of Allen, AL and a number of nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her Chihuahua, Chi Chi, her close companion for 10 years. The family wishes to thank her longtime physician, Dr. Thomas Kessler, as well as Dr. Thad Beeker and Dr. John Morrow for their skilled and attentive care. Thanks also to the kind staffs of Crowne Place Assisted Living and Rehabilitation for their valued care and affection. Pallbearers will be: Willie Paul, Kenny Paul, Ryan Paul, Dusty Smitherman, Tucker Paul, Mike Florence and James E. Dyess Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the BYKOTA Love Offering Fund at Government Street Baptist Church.