Paul Willis Stangel, age 78, died October 12, 2002. He was born June 15, 1924 to Roy Albert & Freda Emma (Buhr) Stangel in the Panama Community, Vernon County, MO. He attended the Panama School until December, 1936 when the family moved to a farm in the Papinville Community, Bates County, MO. He attended Papinville School and graduated from the Rich Hill High School, the class of 1943. In July 1943 he was drafted into the Army in WWII and served 2 1/2 years in Co. C 701st Battalion in the European Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal. He was discharged January 20, 1946, and on February 9, 1946 he was united in marriage to Catherine Emily Shockey in the Happy Hill Church of the Brethren. On March 25, 1946 they moved to their farm east of Papinville, to this union 3 children were born. Paul enjoyed farming and raising cattle. He was a member and worked in the Papinville Methodist Church and later the Rich Hill United Methodist Church. He was President of the Papinville Historical & Cemetery Association. On February 9, 1996, Paul & Catherine celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with their family and friends. Paul was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was always happy when the family came home to visit, or they went to see them. He was preceded in death by his parents. Paul is survived by his wife Catherine, of the home, 2 daughters, Arleta Crockett & husband Leon, Ft. Worth, TX; Paula Prater & husband Cliff, Woodland Park, CO; son, Jerry Stangel & wife Angela, Rockville, MO; & an adopted son, Lloyd Johnson, Kansas City, MO; 8 grandchildren, Diane Levesque & husband Steven, Fort Worth, TX; Christopher Crockett & wife Pamela, Ft Worth, TX; Clay Prater & wife Faith, Woodland Park, CO; Catharine Prater, Ft Worth, TX; Mendy Neider & husband Carl, Rich Hill, MO; Michelle Gardner & husband Matt, Sedalia, MO; Roy & Montana Stangel, Rich Hill, MO; 6 great-grandchildren, Douglas & Jared Levesque, Joshua & Amanda Crockett, Madison Gardner, Haley Prater, 3 step-grandchildren, Matt Johnson, Daniel & Alaina Salazar, and 1 step-great granddaughter, Ashlee Neider, and a host of cousins and friends.