Paul Dongieux

Paul A. Dongieux, Sr., born in Yazoo City, Mississippi on September 20, 1916, peacefully passed away on July 9th, 2013, at the age of 96 years, at his home in Jackson, MS of natural causes. Mr. Dongieux was one of ten children born to Joseph E. Dongieux, Sr. and Margaret Braddock Dongieux in Yazoo City.

He vividly remembered as a young man riding out The Great Flood of 1927 on a barge in Yazoo County.

Paul attended St. Clara’s Catholic Academy and Yazoo City High School. After graduation from Yazoo High he entered the auto parts business in Vicksburg, MS. When he realized that it was just a matter of time before the United States would be joining in the fight against Hitler in Europe he enlisted in the United States Army. He joined the Mississippi National Guard in Vicksburg, MS, in November of 1940 as a private, attended Officers Candidate School, Quartermaster Corps, Camp Lee, VA, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1942, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Quartermaster Corps while serving in the European Theatre of Operations in August of 1945. The Lieutenant Colonel was especially involved in keeping hundreds of gasoline trucks moving to supply General George Patton’s fast moving army during and after the Battle of the Bulge, when some German POWs were even used to support this “moving” gas pipeline. Lt. Col. Paul A. Dongieux, Sr. was in Germany when Hitler killed himself, and had recalled “That was quite an experience.” He also served in the Asiatic Theatre of Operations in 1945, until he was mustered out of service in March, 1946.

In 1946 he and his brother, Marion Dongieux, established Dongieux’s Laundry Machinery Company in Jackson, MS, where, as Vice-President, among many other accomplishments, in 1948 Paul was responsible for negotiating and signing the first distributorship agreement for commercial laundry equipment with The Maytag Corporation, being Franchise #1. The firm was the winner of the Fred Maytag Traveling Trophy in 1967, which was awarded annually for the outstanding distributor of Maytag commercial appliances. He also signed the original Wascomat (manufactured in Sweden) franchise for commercial laundry machinery.

Dongieux's Laundry Machinery Company has been a leading distributor of coin and on-premises commercial laundry equipment since 1946, making it the South's oldest coin laundry equipment company. Paul worked there until 2008, when, at the age of 92, he retired to work and rest at his home, where he was cared for by aids Debbie, Terri and Trena.

Mr. Dongieux was a world traveler, who loved to hunt and fish with his sons and many friends. He enjoyed cooking their catch and sharing it with his family and friends, having many gatherings filled with laughter and colorful story telling.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph E. Dongieux, Sr. and Margaret Braddock Dongieux; his brothers Gene Dongieux, Joseph E. Dongieux, Jr., Marion Dongieux, Norbert Dongieux and John Dongieux; and his sisters Ann Dongieux Rogers, Marie Dongieux Read, and Elizabeth Dongieux Rainer.

He is survived by his wife Elina Lynn Camper Dongieux of Jackson, MS; his brother Benjamin Dongieux of Atlanta, GA (Molly); his three children from his former marriage to Edna Brennan Dongieux, deceased, of Sidney, Australia: son Paul A. Dongieux, Jr. of Oxford, MS (Jane), daughter Ellen B. Dongieux of Brandon, MS, and son John B. Dongieux of Brandon, MS (Kathy); his five grandchildren: Nicole Dongieux Wiggins of Denver, CO (Zach), Raynor Paul Dongieux of Denver, CO, Brennan Dongieux, Jesse Dongieux and Sarah Dongieux, all of Brandon, MS; three step-children: Donna Camper Rosen of New York City, NY (Ben), Marnie Camper Brindley of Oklahoma City, OK (Randy), and Sidney “Trip” Camper of Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Sandra); five step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was loved and will be missed by many.

The funeral arrangements are being handled by Wright and Ferguson at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, MS. Visitation will be at 5 to 7 PM Friday, July 12th, 2013, and Visitation at noon with Service at 1 PM, Saturday, July 13th, 2013.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Mississippi, ATTN: CDR David B. Mason, P.O. Box 2027, Jackson, MS 39225-2027. Office Telephone #: 601-352-8904. Website: vfwms.us