Paul E. Specht, 94, died August 23, 2024. Paul is survived by his son Daniel L. Specht (Linda) of Bartlett, TN; daughter Sherrie S. Baskin (Terry) of Mason, TN; brother Norm Specht of Millington, TN; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great grandchildren. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Betty Bacigalupo Specht; sons Paul A. Specht of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Stephen W. Specht of Covington, TN; and daughter Linda S. Ayers of Jackson, TN.
Paul was born in Butte NE moving to Chicago IL when he was 8 years old. He was the oldest of 6 children and as a young teen he worked at neighboring farms before & after school to help his family. He enlisted in the Navy when he was 18 and served as Naval Aviation Storekeeper. Paul met the love of his life while stationed at Millington Naval Base and did not leave the Mid-South without her. When he left the Navy in 1950, they moved from Pensacola back to Memphis and he went to work at International Harvester as an apprentice in the Tool & Die Department. He worked for International Harvester for 35 years, retiring as a Production Engineer in 1985. He and Betty were married 63 years. Paul was a Christian who loved his family, was very proud of his family and taught his children by example. He and Betty spent the first 15 years of his retirement traveling the US. They moved from Frayser in 1997 to Brighton where he lived until moving to Bartlett in 2022. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing.
Memorials can be sent to Methodist Healthcare Hospice Residence.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 31, 2024 for visitation from 9:00 -10:00 with the Service to follow at Memphis Funeral Home on Germantown Parkway. Burial will be at Memphis Memory Gardens on Raleigh Lagrange following the Service.
Online condolences and floral tributes may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net
