Paul E. Gillette

LAKELAND, Fla. " LAKELAND, Fla. " Paul E Gillette, 97, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010. His family surrounded him in his winter home in Lakeland, Fla. He was a loving father who made it easy for his children to love God by his Godly life. He was born June 13, 1913, in Townville, to Charles E. and Myrtle Turner Gillette, the youngest of six children. He was married Oct. 25, 1940, to Bette J. Bearce, who proceeded him in death on April 30, 2002. Paul graduated from Townville High School in 1931 and joined Cyclops in Titusville and was later promoted to assistant head of maintenance. In 1944 he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Savannah as a petty officer third class. After World War II ended, he returned to Cyclops. In 1951 he became a rural mail carrier for the Townville Post Office, serving until his retirement in 1978. Later, he and his wife, Bette, went to Bolivia, South America, and served as mission home hosts for SIM for several years. He was instrumental in forming Townville Fire Department and later Townville Ambulance Service. He was a member of the Clarence Judd American Legion and was active in many community events over his years. He was a member of Franklin First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, and an associate member of Edgewood Baptist Church, Lakeland. Paul is survived by his eight children and their mates, Joyce and Donald Brown, and Candace and Richard Cornell, all of Seneca, Darlene and James Waldorf of Mercer, Merrilee Munson of Rocky Grove, Charles (Joe) and Melissa Gillette of Fairmont, Ga., Debbie P. Gillette of Okeechobee, Fla., Paul Scott and Anita Gillette of Franklin, and Daniel and Martha Gillette of Fayetteville, Ga.; 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Roy Bearce of Cochranton. He was proceeded in death by three brothers, David, James and Charles Gillette; and two sisters, Marian Gillette and Elizabeth James; and a great-grandchild, Tyler Crow. There will be no visitation but a memorial service is planned for late April. Arrangements are under the direction of Willis L. Arnold Funeral Home, 33353 N. Main St., Townville, a branch of Roofner-Collins-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc.