Paul Joseph Sullivan

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 of natural causes.

Paul was a generous and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a

longtime member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Hope Mills, North

Carolina.

Paul is preceded in death by his wife, Muriel Sullivan; his daughter, Lauren

Sullivan; and his sons, Christopher Sullivan and William Sullivan.

He is survived by his children, Michael Sullivan (Julie), Brian Sullivan, James

Sullivan, Timothy Sullivan, and Kathleen Shepherd (Bobby); 7 grandchildren; 8

great grandchildren; and his brother, Phillip Sullivan.

Paul was born in his parents’ home in East Walpole, MA in 1931. Growing up, he

was known for his friendship, understanding and commitment. He could run like a

deer and was a very good baseball pitcher and outfielder.

Paul served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Flight Simulator Technician and held

a special affinity for fighter pilots. He and his wife Mickey moved their growing

family from New York to Massachusetts to New Mexico to Oregon to Okinawa

with his final assignment at Pope Air Force Base, NC where he retired in 1975.

During this time he worked part-time jobs to support his family and attended

night school, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Campbell College and a Master’s

degree in Education from North Carolina State University. Blessed with the gift of

gab, he loved public speaking and won awards in the Air Force and from

Toastmasters International. Following in his footsteps, three of his children and a

grandson went on to serve in the military.

Following his Air Force career, Paul served as a Disaster Preparedness Coordinator

in Wilmington, NC, then as an instructor teaching math classes to Army soldiers at

Fort Bragg, NC earning a General Education Diploma. Teaching was his true

calling and gave him much joy.

Paul was a devout Catholic who practiced his faith in all that he did. In his later

years, he delivered communion to the elderly in his community as a lay minister.

He loved people and would strike up a conversation at every turn. Volunteering as

a greeter at the Fayetteville VA Hospital gave him the perfect opportunity to do

so.

As a lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Paul spent many Saturdays

dressed in the blue and gold cheering on his team. In 1996, he made a pilgrimage

to the South Bend, IN campus only to see Air Force beat Notre Dame in overtime -

he couldn’t lose either way.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s

Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Hope

Mills, NC.