Paul Conrad Baganz

WEATHERFORD -- Paul Conrad Baganz Sr., 91, of Weatherford departed this life Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, to be with his heavenly Father. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorials: In lieu of usual remembrances, the family requests donations to Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund, 1500 W. Ball St., Weatherford, Texas 76086. Paul was born Feb. 18, 1917, in Dale, Wis. His parents were the the Rev. Louis and Rose Baganz, and he was one of four brothers. Paul graduated from Northwestern College and received his M.A. degree in counseling and guidance from the University of Wisconsin. He taught Latin and German in Brodhead, Wis., until 1941 when he served in World War II in New Guinea as a navigator on a B-17 named "Jersey Skeeter." Paul was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the Pacific and also the Distinguished Flying Cross. Paul was awarded many other honors, including Washington, D.C.'s Superior Service Award from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Civil Servant of the Year for work with the rehabilitation of the mentally ill, and Tarrant County Community Council's Hercules Professional Award for work in the area of community relations for social welfare. Paul's career was dedicated to working with youth and adults with challenges. He was chief of Veterans Administration Guidance Center at Texas Christian University from 1945-1951, chief of vocational rehabilitation services at NIMH Clinical Research Center in Fort Worth and associate director of the Drug Treatment Center in Fort Worth from 1972-1981. Paul retired from the Tarrant County Youth Center, a center he founded for troubled youth. During his basic training at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Paul met the love of his life, Doris Louise Tubbs, on a blind date. They were married June 20, 1942. Paul was a true man of God and faith. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Weatherford, where he attended each Sunday. After church, he could be found at Whataburger passing out his miniature Bibles and spreading the word. He also visited Whataburger on Wednesdays to pass out the same Bibles after devotional at the nursing center where he resided. Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years in 2005, and frequently stated he was looking forward to the day he would see her in heaven. Survivors: Daughter, Eleanor Cooper and her husband, Farley, of Granbury; son, Paul Baganz Jr. and his wife, Barbara, of Fort Worth; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.