Paul Worden

Paul William Worden, age 94, of Greenville, passed away late Thursday evening at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. The son of Frank & Laura (Johnson) Worden, he was born on Jan. 15, 1915 in Fenwick, the second of four children. Paul attended country school and graduated in 1933 from Sheridan Agricultural High School where he played football. He then attended what is now Central Michigan University. On October 23, 1937 he married Beatrice Anna Johnson on the farm that was their home for over 65 years. Paul farmed the land he loved and also worked at the former Ranney Refrigerator Company for 23 years. In retirement, Paul and Bea spent 17 winters in south Texas where they made many new friends. Paul was a longtime member of the Danish Brotherhood Society, Stanton Star Masonic Lodge No. 250 F&AM, and St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Helen McGowan, and her husband Howard; a brother, Robert Worden, and his wife Beatrice; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Christensen and her husband Lavern; and two brothers-in-law, Frank Wilson and Leo Block. Surviving are his wife of almost 72 years, Beatrice Worden; their children, Karene & Ronald Cooper of Sheridan, Connie & Gary Howes of Grand Rapids, and Thomas & Barbara Worden of Greenville; seven grandchildren, Shelly Reynolds, Tom Swindell, Amy Taft, Micah Swindell, Kim Simmons, Williams Howes, Ryan Worden; two step-grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; four step-great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Phebe Wilson of Sheridan; a sister-in-law, Sheila Block of Greenville; and many, many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 at the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, with Pastor Betsy Kamphuis of St. Paul Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will take place privately at South Sidney Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the funeral home, where envelopes for memorial contributions are available. The family would like to thank the staff at Fountain View of Lowell for the kind and compassionate care Paul received as he made his journey with Alzheimers disease these past two years. His family takes great comfort in knowing that Paul would have said that the first 90 years were great he had a loving family, many friends, worked hard -- yet enjoyed life. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Worden, please visit our flower store.