Paul Elliott Wooldridge passed away Saturday, February 4, 2012 at his home in Winchell, Texas with his wife, Linda, at his side after a long and courageous battle with Congestive Heart Failure only to be worsened in the last few months by Alzheimer’s disease. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at St Mary’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Brownwood, Texas at 2:00 P.M. Burial will be in Cox Cemetery in McCulloch County. Visitation will be Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M. at the Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas.
Paul was born October 1, 1934 in Gould, Oklahoma. His parents were Bernie and Chloe Jarvis Wooldridge. Paul attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College before starting his family. He graduated from Oklahoma State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. He was a gifted and talented Western realist artist and portrait artist. The above photo is his self-portrait. In the 1970’s Governor John Connally, who at the time was a Trustee to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, petitioned although unsuccessfully for Paul to be entered into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Paul was very proud of that acknowledgement of his talent and that he was able to present Penny Chenery, owner of Kentucky Derby winner Secretariat with a signed print of his painting of Secretariat after the Triple Crown win in 1973. While attempting to make a living as a commissioned artist he worked in the insurance industry. After completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree he opened a commercial arts business in Tulsa, Oklahoma and later in Branson, Missouri.
Paul married Linda Neighbors Watts in 2006 after a 31 year friendship. Both were blessed to become true and faithful partners. Winchell became his little piece of heaven on earth where they raised miniature donkeys and lived each day as a gift from God for their time together. I will make my home in your heart was the last line of their wedding vows. Today, Linda has a hole in her heart that only God can fill.
Paul is survived by his wife, Linda Neighbors Wooldridge and 5 children: Laurel Hamilton and husband, Steve of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; David Wooldridge and wife Ellen of Prairie Village, Kansas; Marian Coast and husband Larry, Aimee DuPreez and Joseph Wooldridge, all of Kansas City, Kansas. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, his brother Donn Wooldridge of Phoenix, Arizona and a brother-in-law Dale Neighbors of Denton, Texas.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001 or the Brownwood Art Association, 215 Fisk Ave., Brownwood, TX 76801l.
Friends are invited to sign the guestbook at www.heartlandfuneralhome.com.
