Paul was born on April 10, 1924, in Church Point, Louisiana, where he worked the family farm and helped raise his younger siblings after the death of his mother. In 1943, Paul left home to serve in World War II in the Pacific Theater, during which he received a Purple Heart with one bronze oak leaf cluster and the Bronze Star. By the grace of God, Paul returned home from the war, quickly made his way to Beaumont to visit his sweetheart, and never left. He and Louella married September 14, 1946, and raised six children. Paul had a long career at the US Post Office, where he served in many supervisory positions in Beaumont, finally retiring in 1979 as Postmaster in Groves.
Retirement was his second career. He and Lou traveled the US and Canada in their RV. They met people from all corners, whom they would visit and meet up with at other locations. They continued living their dream until Lou died in 2006. After that, he traveled to Europe, the Middle East and around the US with family and friends. Paul loved God, his family and countless friends, his church, and his country.
Paul is survived by two sisters, Evangeline Thibodeaux of Eunice, La., and Yvonne Guidry of Lafayette, La.; two sons, Paul Arceneaux, Jr. and wife Cathy of Village Mills, and John Arceneaux and wife Debbie of Silsbee; four daughters, Donna Franklin and husband David of Hitchcock, Mary Burns and husband Doug of Montgomery, Candy Arceneaux and Glinda George of Lumberton, and Pam Farnie and husband Donnie of Beaumont. Paul is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and a slew of nephews and nieces.
Paul is under the care of Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Forest Lawn Funeral Home chapel, 4955 Pine St, Beaumont, Texas, on Sunday, February 16, 2020, from 2 to 5pm, with a Rosary at 4pm. A Funeral Mass will be at Infant Jesus Catholic Church, 243 S. LHS Drive, Lumberton, Texas, on Monday, February 17, 2020, at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, Paul would like donations to be made in his memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Moon Shot Program to eliminate lung cancer, or the Texas Oncology Foundation.
