Paul Miller Wighaman

Paul Miller Wighaman passed away peacefully on August 19, 2016, at Calvary Fellowship Homes. Paul was born on March 23, 1926, the 2nd son of Robert and Bertha Wighaman in South Fork, PA. He had 3 brothers and 1 sister. After graduating from Clearfield, H.S., in 1944, he joined the US Army Air Corps and was trained as a turret gunner on a B-29. At war’s end, Paul attended Penn State University. In 1949, he married Jean Shirey. They moved to Albuquerque, NM where Paul taught at Menaul School for Spanish American students under the Presbyterian Mission Board. He graduated from the University of New Mexico, designed campus buildings and an area church. He and his wife, Jean, had their first son, Jeffrey Paul and their daughter, Beth. Their 3rd child, John Robert was born in PA. On their return in 1956 to PA, Paul, an Eagle Scout served as District Scout Executive in the Bucktail Council. From 1957 to 1965, he taught Industrial Arts and served as president of the CVEA at Cumberland Valley High School, Mechanicsburg, PA followed by a year at California State College, California, PA. In 1966, Paul joined the PA Department of Education as Industrial Arts supervisor in Harrisburg, PA. Always active in the professional organizations AIAA and IAAP, he served as its state president in 1979. Paul earned his M.Ed. from Penn State University and also served on the National Education Council on Energy and Power at MIT. In 1976, he became professor of Power Technology at Millersville University until his retirement in 1986. Paul served as church elder and deacon and was an active member at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA. Paul and his wife, Jean, were devotedly married for (67) years. He is survived by his wife, Jean, three children, Jeffrey P. Wighaman, New Mexico, Elizabeth W. Valle, and John Robert, husband of Joy Wighaman, both of Lancaster; brothers, J. Carl, husband of Mary Wighaman and William E., husband of Ruth Ann Wighaman, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Margie and a brother, Robert. Relatives and friends are invited to Paul’s Memorial Service at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. with The Rev. Dr. John Light officiating. Private interment will take place at a later date. The family will receive friends at the Church on Thursday from 12:00 Noon until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Calvary Fellowship Homes, attn: Benevolent Fund, 502 Elizabeth Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.