Paul Slocum

East Lansing

Paul lived a huge life. He was a devoted family man, an educator, and talented singer. He traveled on four continents. Paul was dedicated to his community through his work with the Lions Club, and leadership of several grief support groups.

His love of music manifested in both performance and audience. He sang the lead in operetta’s during high school, sang in the chorus of several local operas and in the madrigal group the Silver Swan Singers for many years.

Paul was born on December 13, 1926 in Joliet, IL. He died at his home in East Lansing on September 10, 2012.

He earned a Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University and was a professor in the MSU College of Education for 25 years. During his working life, he won a National Education award for an innovative video self-critique method he developed to help teach teachers. He touched the lives of many students, and was advisor and mentor throughout his career.

He was predeceased by his parents, Philip Henry Slocum and Margaret Frances (Harms) Slocum, his brother David Sanford Slocum, and his beloved first wife, Patricia Ann (Jones) Slocum . He and Pat had 3 children, Philip, Sarah and, Charlie (Nan) Slocum. Christopher Oswalt, Sarah Johnson, Roxanne (Michael) Schafer, Anne Johnson, Jesse Slocum, and Maxwel l Mather. He was an outstanding family man who participated lovingly in family life.

In 1996 he married Mary Diehl Voelker. Paul enjoyed and enveloped Mary, her daughter Laura Voelker and her two children, Sari and Nick Warren, in his extensive family network. He is also survived by his siblings Nancy Schneider (Felix), Margaret “Garby” Woods, and Tom Slocum (Susan) and a large and loving family of nieces and nephews. Paul is also survived by dear friends Henry Kennedy, Roy Wesselman, Bill Main, Bill Taylor, and numerous others. Only a week before his death, he hosted a gathering of many relatives in what he called a “miniature family reunion.” Seventeen people jammed into his room to gather around his bed and be in his presence.

Paul had a giant, loving spirit. He enjoyed humor and levity in all parts of his life. His friends knew they could come to him when they needed support or simply good cheer. He experienced his final illness with characteristic grace and continued to be concerned for the welfare of all whom he knew even as he became more incapacitated.

A memorial service will be held in Paul’s honor on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing at 855 Grove St., East Lansing, MI 48823. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Paul may be made to the Mid-Michigan Food Bank, P. O. Box 30101, Lansing, MI 48909.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing, Michigan. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com