1-11-2008

Wayne passed away from cancer calmly in his sleep, Jan. 11th.  Bonnie said he wanted to live until his 66th birthday, Jan. 7th and he did just that.  Wayne was cremated on Jan 23, 2008 on Wayne and Bonnie's 44th anniversary.  Wayne's ashes blew in the desert wind that he loved near Joshua Tree.

Hello everyone,

Wayne Edwin Paul passed away on January 11, four days after his 66^th  birthday.  The birthday cards that many of you sent were a delight.  He received over 50!  I read them to him, and we laughed and cried as you shared your memories of days gone by.  On January 23, 2008, our 44^th wedding anniversary,  John and I went into the desert at Joshua Tree National Park and scattered his ashes into the desert as the wind blew them over rocks and plants, into the trees, and across the desert sands.  Oh how he loved the desert!   He will rest in peace there and in my heart forever.  Wayne was my confidant, my protector, my husband, and a dear friend.  We met on a blind date when I was 18 and he was 21, and that was that!  We married 6 months later. 

 What a glorious life we shared together:  he with his liquor stores, I with my teaching, and we with our dear son John.  We traveled, we camped, we dined out a lot, visited friends, and spent even more time in our two homes in Costa Mesa and the desert, for my precious Wayne loved his homes and all we built together.  John and his wife Alicia have given us two wonderful grandchildren who got a chance to know their “Bompa” as Cassy Belle calls him.  Even Nico, in his short life of 14 months, touched Bompa’s heart too.  Cassy Belle says Bompa will be an angel sitting on her shoulder.  That sounds fine with me.

 Dear Wayne your presence will be missed, but your spirit will be with all of us and our memories are filled with all the wonder of you.  Using some of the words from a song in “Westside Story”, “Make of our hearts, one heart, make of our lives, one life, even death won’t part us now.”

 Your cards, letters, gifts, prayers, and condolences honoring Wayne and the way you felt about him moved us,  comforted  us, and gave us so much enjoyment.  Double thank you.

GOOD-BYE WAYNE