Statler Family Obituaries

Seabaugh, Paul William, Col.

Seabaugh, Paul William, Col.

Col. Paul William Seabaugh, of Kennett, son of the late Jonas Lee Seabaugh and Josie Biehle Seabaugh, was born March 25, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and departed this life Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at Kennett, at the age of 90.

Paul married Beady Smith on Sept. 18, 1942. Beady preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 2001. He was also preceded in death by one son, Peter Seabaugh; two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include two sons, Timothy Seabaugh and wife, Susan, of Northfield, Minn., and Steven Seabaugh and wife, Jean, of Brookland, Fla.; one daughter, Paula Scherer and husband, William, of Kennett; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; special friends, Shirley Metcalf, Deb Cleveland, Joyce Cobb, Ashley Autry, Jessica Cobb, Jean Scherer, Lynn Lebo and Jena Jarrett, and other friends and relatives.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at the McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 22, at the McDaniel Funeral Home Chapel with Revs. Dale Rickman, Chris Maynard and Jim Pemberton officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 22, in the Memorial Park Cemetery at Cape Girardeau.

Pallbearers are Marcus Scherer, Dylan Scherer, Calvert Seabaugh, Paul Seabaugh, Jeremy Seabaugh and Christina Seabaugh.

Honorary pallbearers are Kristin and Moriah Seabaugh.

Memorials may be made to Toys for Tots, c/o Alyce Bryant, 2210 Carter, Kennett, Mo. 63857.

 

Printed in the Tuesday, October 19, 2010 edition of the Daily Dunklin Democrat, Kennett, MO


One of Dunklin County's Hall of Honorees recently passed away, leaving his mark on a community that will remember him as many things including a decorated veteran, successful lawyer, and a true humanitarian that shared the richness of his life with all of those who had the opportunity to know him.

Col. Paul William Seabaugh, of Kennett, son of the late Jonas Lee Seabaugh and Josie Biehle Seabaugh, was born March 25, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and departed this life Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at Kennett, at the age of 90.

He Attended public schools in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, from first grade through High School, completing eleven years, before attending Southeast Missouri State College from 1937 to 1942. His degrees include Bachelor of Arts in Physical Science and Bachelor of Science in Education. Seabaugh entered Naval Aviation Cadet training on December 23, 1942; graduated and commissioned as Second Lieutenant in U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on September 18, 1942 as a Naval Aviator.

While serving, Seabaugh accomplished many great things which include being the pilot for a planned invasion of Japan. He also participated in the Inchon landing during the Korean War, was selected by the Secretary of the Navy for Naval Post Graduate Law at George Washington University in which he graduated with honors, practiced law in a private firm with Charles M. Cable of Kennett, and was the recipient of more than one dozen military honors and decorations.

Specific military accomplishments that followed his entering cadet training in 1942 include:

* Marine Corps Test Pilot and Engineer Officer, March 1, 1944-June 20, 1945.

* Pacific Theater from June 20, 1945-January 19, 1946 with Marine Air Group II

as pilot.

He was released to inactive duty on April 30, 1946 and returned to Active Duty August 25, 1947, where he received regular commission in

U.S. Marine Corps. Duties included:

* 1948-1949-- Duty in Tsingtao, China

* 1948-1952--Regu1ar duty assignments with U.S. Marine Corps including service in Korean War participating in the Inchon Landing, North Korean aggression and Communist China aggression.

* 1952-1955--Se1ected by Secretary of the Navy to attend Navy Department

Later he attended the Post Graduate Law Program at The George Washington University, Washington, DC, graduating June, 1955, with a Juris Doctor degree with honors. Additional attainments include:

* 1955-1956--Defense Counsel before General Courts- martial

* 1956-1957--Staff Secretary to Commanding General, Camp Pendleton,

California.

* 1957-1958--Prosecutor before General Courts-martial

* 1958-1960--Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Legal Officer at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center .

* 1960-1961--Division Legal Officer and Military Judge for Third Marine Division, Okinawa, Ryuku I slands.

* 1961-1965--Discipline Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC, Legal Advisor to Commandant of the Marine Corps.

* 1965-1968--Military Judge for Marine and Navy General Courts-martial convening commands in south California, Nevada and Arizona .

* 1968-1969--Service in Republic of South Viet Nam, Staff Judge Advocate to Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force and Commanding General, I Corps.

* August 1, 1969--Retired from Marine Corps with rank of Colonel, U.S.

Marine Corps.

* August, 1969-June, 1970--Private practice of law in Kennett, Mis souri.

* July, 1970--Returned to active duty with Marine Corps as Military Judge and Head of Navy- Marine Corps Judiciary Activity, Branch Office, Camp Pendleton, California, service as such until August 1, 1972, when returned to retired status.

* 1972-present--Private practice of law in Kennett, Missouri, presently a partner in the law firm of Welman, Seabaugh, Beaton & Williams.

A list of Seabaugh's military decorations and medal earned over the years, includes:

* Legion of Merit with combat "V"

* Bronze Star Medal with combat "V"

* American Campaign Medal

* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

* Victory Medal

* China Service Medal

* Navy Occupation Service Medal

* United Nations Service Medal

* Korean Presidential Unit Citation

* Viet Nam Service Medal

* National Defense Service Medal

* Korean Service Medal

* Presidential Unit Citation

* Republic of Viet Nam Meritorious Unit Citation, Cross/ of Gallantry (Navy Commendation Medal)

Regarding his life, outside of military and educational accomplishments, Seabaugh also found success in his family life after marrying Beady Smith on Sept. 18, 1942. Beady preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 2001.

He was also preceded in death by one son, Peter Seabaugh; two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include two sons, Timothy Seabaugh and wife, Susan, of Northfield, Minn., and Steven Seabaugh and wife, Jean, of Brookland, Fla.; one daughter, Paula Scherer and husband, William, of Kennett; eight grandchidlren; nine great-grandchildfren; special friends, Shirley Metcalf, Deb Cleveland, Joyce Cobb, Ashley Autry, Jessica Cobb, Jean Scherer, Lynn Lebo and Jena Jarrett, and other friends and relatives.

Seabaugh will also always be remembered as someone who contributed to his community. He has been featured repeatedly in Veterans' Day Programs hosted at local school campuses, in which he has talked with the students who seem to be quite curious about the military and the United Nations.

Seabaugh told the Daily Dunklin Democrat in earlier years that when visiting area schools, his favorite part is talking with the kids and watching at the expressions on their faces while they are learning about America's rich history and looking at pictures he shares with them.

He has also played a supportive role in local programs such as the "Power of 11 Cents," a program that supports the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund.

Visitation services for Seabaugh will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at the McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 22, at the McDaniel Funeral Home Chapel with Revs. Dale Rickman, Chris Maynard and Jim Pemberton officiating.

Graveside services for Seabaugh will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 22, in the Memorial Park Cemetery at CApe Girardeau.

Pallbearers are Marcus Scherer, Dylan Scherer, Calvert Seabaugh, Paul Seabaugh, Jeremy Seabaugh and Christina Seabaugh.

Honorary pallbearers are Kristin and Moriah Seabaugh.

*Memorials may be made to Toys for Tots, c/o Alyce Bryant, 2210 Carter, Kennett, Mo. 63857.

 

Printed in the Tuesday, October 19, 2010 edition of the Daily Dunklin Democrat, Kennett, MO

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