Master Segeant Paul Connatser, U S Army retired Obituary (2014)

Augusta-Master Sergeant Paul Lamar Connatser, U.S. Army retired, 86, of Augusta died Saturday, Jan., 4, 2014 at the Togus springs palliative care, VA Medical Center Togus with his “Sweet Lady” by his side. Prior to Togus Springs Paul had been a resident of Patriot Place in the same Medical Center for four years. He was born in Tampa, Florida on March 18, 1927 the son of John and Eunice Johnson Connatser. Paul was educated in Tampa schools. His first job as a teenager was for Western Union, delivering messages on his bicycle. He served six years in the US Navy and was in the Philippines during the end of World War II. Paul then joined the Air Force transferring six months later into the U.S. Army as a recruiting officer. He served in Korea from 1969-1970 and spent eighteen months in Vietnam. He retired from the Army as a Master Sergeant in 1973. Paul worked for Furbush Chevrolet in Waterville in the finance and insurance department and later was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service from 1979-1989. For sixteen years Paul volunteered at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Togus, logging in over ten thousand hours. Paul was active in the Waterville Players, Theater at Monmouth and with Hallowell’s Gaslight Theater with roles in “The Mousetrap”, ”All My Sons”, “Twelfth Night”, “James and the Giant Peach”, ”The Real Inspector Hound” and “See How They run”. His last performance was “Catch Me If You Can” as Father Kelleher. He was an avid reader, always desiring to learn. He enjoyed watching television, especially Discovery and History channels, nature programs and British Comedy. Paul loved every kind of music- he played the guitar and harmonica; He wrote poetry. He was a listener not a talker. Paul was generous, compassionate, kind and gentle mannered. He was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Catherine Ann Connatser (November 30, 1983) and his brothers Lawrence, John, and William. He is survived by his longtime companion and soul mate Judith Wingate of Augusta, daughters Paula McPherson of Farmington and Tina Couturier of Waterville, grandchildren Mathew, Lauren, Emily, Erin, Elizabeth, and Christopher, great grandchildren, Nora, Ethan, Avery, Kyedn, Elijah, Reina, sister Catherine (Katy) Keene and husband Perry of Florida, sister-in-law Betty Jo Connatser of Florida, and friend Carmen who he always referred to her as “Mrs. Murphy”. With gratitude Judith wishes to thank the staff at Patriots Pace and Togus Springs for the excellent care Paul received. Visiting hours will be held Friday, January 10th from 10 to 11:30am at Staples Funeral Home 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner with military honors following the visitation at noon time at the chapel in the New Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Mt. Vernon Road in Augusta. Donations may be made in his memory to the Augusta Food Bank c/o St. Mark’s 9 Summer Street Augusta 04330 Visitation 01/10/2014 10:00 11:30:00 later in the spring