The Rev. Paul N. Whitteberry

Paul Nathan Whitteberry April 3, 1925 - October 14, 2014 The Reverend Paul N. Whitteberry passed away on October 14, 2014, at Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida. He was 89. He was born in Mulberry, Indiana on April 3, 1925, to Lawrence Benjamin and Fay Marie Whitteberry. He had four siblings: older sister Irene, and younger brothers John, David, and James. Paul served in the United States Navy during WWII. Following the war, Paul studied engineering at Purdue University, then went on to receive the bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Olivet Nazarene College (1949), the master of arts degree from Boston University Graduate School (1953), the bachelor of sacred theology (1953) and master of sacred theology (1961) degrees from Boston University School of Theology. Paul began his service as pastor of the Oak Square United Methodist Church in Brighton, MA in 1953. It was here that he met his wife, Marjorie Knapp, who was in the Boston area visiting her sister. They were married on March 7, 1954. Paul served as pastor for 38 years in ten churches in the Southern New England Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1969 Paul purchased a dairy farm in Middleboro, MA and built it into a KOA campground, which he and his family owned and operated for 14 years. When he sold the property in 1984 it was one of the top 50 KOA franchises in the country. Paul served as coordinator on numerous Christian historical tours of Israel in the 1960s and 70s. He also served on mission trips through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, including extended trips to Chile and to India. Paul also worked tirelessly to revitalize and repair the buildings and grounds of the churches he served in. He eventually started a revolving loan fund to help renovate churches throughout the entire Southern New England Conference. Paul and Marjorie moved to Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, FL in 1996. Paul served as a chaplain there, was President of the Resident’s Association, and frequently preached in Penney Memorial Church. He enjoyed square dancing, singing in the choir, and bicycling and tennis. His wife Marjorie passed away in 2007. Paul is survived by three children: Susan (Whitteberry) Freesen and her husband Guy of Staunton, VA; Barbara (Whitteberry) Zachs and her husband Todd of West Simsbury, CT; and David Whitteberry of Winter Garden, FL. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Rebecah (Freesen) Hatchel and her husband Rory, Bethany (Freesen) Jubilee and her husband Neshawn, Lydia Freesen, and Jonathan Freesen; Daniel Zachs, Samantha Zachs; Gordon Zachs; and Kyle Zachs. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 10 AM at Penney Memorial Church in Penney Farms, FL, 32079.