Paul Edward Peck Jr.

Paul Edward Peck, Jr., born July 22, 1941, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Paul Peck, Sr. and Marie Salings Peck, was the eldest son in a family of six children. Paul was a determined and hardworking boy who deeply cherished his siblings. He often remarked that one of the hardest parts of growing older was losing his brothers. A favorite story he loved to tell involved his brother Bill sneaking to drink a neighbor's porch-delivered milk, which led to Paul receiving a spanking from his mother for not stopping him. This experience instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility for his family, a value he carried throughout his life, remaining close to his siblings always. Even after living in a nursing home and using a wheelchair, he chose to use his Sunday outings with Kelli to visit his sisters, Maudie Lay and Joann Dodd, and his brother-in-law, Richard Long.

Paul’s strong work ethic began early. At just 11 years old, he started stocking shelves at a grocery store. He fondly remembered the grocer who allowed him to drive the new delivery truck at 14, and even after he admittedly wrecked the new truck, continued to employ him without anger or consequence. He also often helped his mother prepare for breakfast customers at her diner before school.

Love found Paul when he saw Sharon Glaser walking to Fountain Ferry Park with her friend Diane, and he offered them a ride. Despite her friend's protests and concerns about her grandmother's disapproval, Sharon jumped into the car. They later married when Paul was 18 and Sharon was only 16. Those first years were tumultuous, and finally Paul offered to go into the Army so he couldn’t go out with his friends, she couldn’t run home, and they could try to make their marriage work.

Paul enlisted with his brother Bill, who became an infantryman. While other brothers joined the Army as cooks, Paul, having had his fill of kitchen work with his mom, opted for a different path and became a radar tech. He narrowly missed being sent to Vietnam and was stationed in Korea. Paul proudly served his country for nine years, being stationed in El Paso, Texas; Germany; Alabama; and Korea. Sharon cried when he decided to leave the Army after serving in Korea for two years without seeing his wife and young girls. Though he was always proud of his service and his country, he couldn’t bear to be apart from his young family.

Paul and Sharon had two daughters, Vickie (Purcell) and Kelli (Peck Parrott). He was a devoted father, coaching their softball teams, working concession stands at high school games, and enthusiastically attending every cheerleading competition. He’d loudly cheer, "You're looking good...for a girl!" which always brought smiles to everyone's faces.

Upon settling back in Louisville, Paul learned to drive a semi-truck from his brother-in-law, Frank Lay, and became a proud Teamster. He worked for various trucking companies throughout his career, eventually retiring from the profession. His remarkable ability to maneuver an 18-wheeler into the tightest alleys, combined with his easygoing personality, strong work ethic, and unwavering integrity, earned him respect across Louisville. It was rare for the family to go anywhere without a colleague or customer approaching Paul to sing his praises. One store owner even entrusted Paul with a key to his business, stating he didn't trust his own employees as much as he trusted Paul.

Paul was a fantastic father who imparted invaluable lessons that continue to guide his daughters. His work ethic and dignified approach to life continue to inspire them daily. They often recall his advice to "sleep on it" before tackling serious problems and frequently quote his witty sayings: "Mind over matter - you don't mind and they don't matter!" or "In the jungle of life, it's not the lions and tigers that get you, it's those #@*! mosquitoes." Even in the face of dementia, his positivity and dignity were a testament to his character. Though many with dementia become agitated and negative, Paul kept his sense of humor, his love of good jokes, and easy-going demeanor until the very end. He could have been bitter, but instead, he remained upbeat and pleasant, endearing himself to the nursing staff at Westport Place, who affectionately called him "Pop-Pop" and shared daily laughs with him.

Valuing family above all, Paul supported his daughters in a myriad of ways. He was always ready for a visit and made numerous trips to Las Vegas, Michigan, Texas, and Florida to see his girls, his grandsons, and his sons-in-law (Chris Purcell and David Parrott). He traveled to Vegas frequently to help Vickie with a variety of home improvements, including teaching her how to lay ceramic tile and install ceiling fans. When Kelli received an offer to attend doctoral school but didn’t have the money for the move, he responded, “We saved $2,000 for your wedding. It doesn’t look like you’re getting married any time soon, so it’s yours if you want it.” Though he was proud when he attended her dissertation defense, he was even more proud watching her drive her big moving truck.

A devoted Christian, Paul was baptized at South Jefferson Baptist Church and later attended Shively Baptist Church. However, his faith deepened as a Master Mason at the Valley-Daylight Lodge. He took immense pride in his roles within the lodge, especially in his brothers also becoming Masons. He firmly believed that the tenets of Masonry helped him become a better Christian and a better man.

Paul’s love of family extended to his nieces and nephews. While he had two girls, many of his brothers and sisters had sons. He loved being a part of scouting and camping weekends with Bruce and Glenn Lay and attending their sporting events. He was also very proud of his nephews, Chris Peck and John Peck, who became highly skilled tradesmen. Paul often called on them for help around the house in his later years, somewhat for their skill and knowledge, but mostly for the treat of spending time with them. He always thought his time with his nephews taught him to be a better Papaw.

His grandsons were the only things Paul was as proud of as his daughters. While he raised his girls to be as tough as any boys, his grandsons allowed him to connect with the lives of young boys growing up. Officially known as "Papaw" by all three, he was later affectionately dubbed "Poopaw" by Jason. The nickname stuck after Paul playfully called Jason "poopy drawers," and Jason, having inherited his grandfather's sense of humor, retorted with "Poopaw." He encouraged all three grandsons to pursue as much education as possible and beamed with pride when Joshua, the eldest, graduated from both college and law school; when Jackson was admitted to Yale and joined the Air Force; and when Jason chose to attend UofL, staying closer to home so his "Poopaw" could see him more often.

The world is most definitely a better place because of the life of Paul Peck.

In his memory, please consider donations to: PRP Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 58051, Louisville, KY 40268