Paul was faithful to his family: shortly after completing his education, he married the love of his life, Jodie. They were happily married for 57 years, until her death in 2016, and he often referred to his wife as "the best thing I ever did." He was also faithfully supportive of his children, each of whom had unique skills and a distinct path in life.
He was faithful to his Church: a "cradle Catholic," he was a man who did not speak often of his faith, but who taught his children by example, always attending Sunday Mass even when he had to work on Sundays, or when the family was on vacation. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 44 years, including serving as Grand Knight, and was an usher at his parish as well as, for many years, head usher at the noon Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
He was faithful to his country: he served in the US Army during the Korean War, working as a cryptographer in the demilitarized zone. He voted in every election, up to and including 2020, and left behind a partially completed ballot for the 2022 primary election. He also taught his children the value of participating in peaceful political demonstrations, by having them accompany him and others to the March for Life on many occasions beginning in the late 1970s. He was happy to survive to see Roe v. Wade overturned shortly before his death,
As a retail pharmacist for 54 years, he was faithful to his work, his employers, his colleagues and his customers. He was a pharmacy manager for much of that time, and for quite a few years manager of the drugstores.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Jodie, his sister Audrey, and his infant daughter Kimberly. He is survived by his sister Pat Steiber, his children (Dr.) Kathleen Fenton, Mark Fenton and (Fr.) Patrick Fenton, and his granddaughter Samantha Fenton, as well as his brother-in-law Dick Steiber, his sister-in-law Nancy Laubis, and a large number of nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of donations to:
Knights of Columbus (www.kofc.org) or
Novick Cardiac Alliance (www.cardiac-alliance.org) or
Diocese of Tyler Priests for Tomorrow (www.dioceseoftyler.org/pft/)
Visitation will be at Hines Rinaldi Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 2 4-7pm.
Requiem Mass will be at 11am on Wednesday, August 3 at Old St. John the Evangelist Church (Our Lady Queen of Poland) on Rosensteel Avenue in Silver Spring.
