He was preceded in death by his wife Doris June Lass of the Brighton family, his father Edward F. Lass, Sr. and his mother Edna Anna Boeldt Lass, his siblings Edward F. Lass Jr, Irma Leola Lass Gravelle, David Charles Lass, grandson Paul L. Lass III and daughter-in-law Susan Elizabeth Howard Lass.
He is survived by his sister Norine B. Lass Taylor, his children Deborah A. Lass, Paul L. Lass, Jr (Eileen), Anna M. Lass Carter (Jack), Daniel W. Lass (Sue Ann), Timothy J. Lass (Laura) and Mark E. Lass (Susan). His surviving grandchildren are James Lass, David Carter, Kathryn Carter Null (Andrew), Seren Lass, Caitlyn Lass, Tyler Lass (Torrie), Kaylee Lass, Suzanna Lass Davies (Peter), Julia Lass Zavaleta (Saul), Joseph Lass (Elizabeth), Mary Lass Shepherd (Shawn), Thomas Hayes (Jasmine), Simon Lass, Daniel Lass (Logan), Rebekah Lass, Nathan Lass (Katarina), Liz Lass and Ashton Lass. His great grandchildren are Corbin, Jonathan, Benjamin, William, Margaret, Eleanor, Miski, Natalie, Hailey, Thomas, Jude, Harrison, Asher, Samiri and Stevie.
As a child, Paul was active in the Boy Scouts where he was two merit badges short of Eagle Scout. He was a Korean War draft dodger who proudly served for 26 1/2 years in the US Navy. His duty stations included Naval Air Station Atlantic City; Argentina, Newfoundland; NAS Niagara Falls, NY; Kwajalein, M.I.; Aircraft Ferry Squadron 32 San Diego, CA; Fighter Squadron 191 MAS Miramar, CA; NATTC Lakehurst, NJ; AMO NAS Norfolk, VA; and USS Guadalcanal LPH7. He retired in 1977.
Paul was very active in his church. He loved to be around his children and grandchildren. He camped with his sons in the Boy Scouts, hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail with the Girl Scouts, coached Little League baseball, was statistician for the Norview Pilots and attended as many activities of the children and grandchildren as he could.
Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6001 Granby Street, Norfolk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.
His final words to us are as follows:
“Miss me - but let me go:
When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little - but not for long.
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared.
Miss me - but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all part of the Master’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss me - but let me go!”
Christine Georgina Rossetti