Paul E. Skinner

Paul Edward Skinner (born John Walter Kelsey) entered this world on August 2, 1930 and was adopted two weeks later by Alger Edward and Paulean Marion Skinner in Watertown, NY. He was raised in Syracuse, NY, where, among many other accomplishments, he became an excellent musician playing piano, clarinet, sax, and drums.

He attended Syracuse University and upon graduation in 1952, was commissioned as an Air Force officer before going on to Bainbridge, GA for primary pilot training. His 24 year career in the Air Force began with assignments as a Flight Instructor at Willliams AFB, Arizona, as a pilot with the 9th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Komaki Air Base, Japan, ROTC instructor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and Flight Examiner at Andrews AFB, MD.

From 1965 to 1967, Major Skinner was chosen to be an Assistant Air Force attache to the American Ambassadors of four Equatorial African nations: Chad, the African Republic, and the Republics of Cameroons and Gabon. During this assignment, as an additional duty, he flew the C-47 aircraft which supplied the embassies from Lagos, Nigeria and Wheelus Air Base in Libya. Among the highlights of this assignment were participating in safaris with the Chadian President, Foreign Minister, and the American Ambassador.

His career continued with assignments back to Andrews AFB as the Chief of Base Operations, where in 1971 he met and married Patsy Brenner his beloved partner for the rest of his life. Also, during this time, he was a lead planner and Air Force executive officer for the massive Transpo-72 air show at Dulles Airport. His final assignment was to Hawaii where Lt Col Skinner commanded the 1776 Special Activities Squadron at Wheeler Field and then worked as duty director of the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Operations Center at Hickam AFB.

He retired from the Air Force in 1976 and returned to the Washington D.C. area where he volunteered as a guide at the new National Air and Space Museum before going to work as a real estate agent in southern Maryland. In the early 1980’s he began his final career as an Operations Officer at Washington National Airport where he was instrumental in developing airfield security procedures and systems as well as crisis response plans.

Paul and Patsy moved to Raleigh, NC, in 2003. There, he was involved in the Retired Officer’s Association as well as a number of other clubs and organizations. Paul was a member of Benson Memorial United Methodist Church where he had many good friends and particularly enjoyed the fellowship of the men’s Sunday School gathering and breakfast club also known as the “Romeos” (Retired Old Men Eating Out).

He was devoted to his wife of 40 years, Patsy, to children, Debbie Holtz and her husband Micheal, Kenny Kelley (deceased)and his widow Beverly, Virginia Wise, Keith Herr, Mark Skinner and his wife Lucy, and Vivian Demarco. He was adoringly proud of his twelve grandchildren, Mathew, Jessica, Rebecca, Zach, Tyler, Megan, Andy, Greg, Scott, Michelle, Anna and Isabelle, and two great grandchildren, Jade and Owen.

He was preceded in death by his first two wives, Lois Jean Miller, and Joan Vance Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you make memorial gifts to Benson United Methodist Church in memory of Paul Skinner.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Benson United Methodist Church, Raleigh, NC. Following the service, a reception will be held at the church. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements to be handled by Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh NC 27612.