Mr. Pauly had a distinguished career serving his country in the United States Navy for 20 active years, from 1953 – 1972. He was a Machinist Mate, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer (CPO). Some significant duty stations were: the USS John W. Thomason DD-760, the USS Conway DD-507, the USS William Wood DDR-715, the USS Lowry DD-770, and the USS John F. Kennedy CVA-67. He was also an Instructor in Naval Science at Auburn University. Mr. Pauly was awarded medals for Navy Good Conduct, China Service, American Defense Service, Korean Service, and the United Nations Service. Following his military retirement, Mr. Pauly worked for the Kroger Company for nine years, then started his own company, Adept Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, where he worked until his final retirement.
Mr. Pauly was a 3rd Degree Master Mason and had many hobbies and interests. He enjoyed camping, wine-making, cooking, antique vehicles, square dancing, growing plants and flowers (especially Hibiscus), and traveling. He and wife, Nancy, did just about everything together. Their travels even took them to the Holy Land and to Switzerland, the land from which his grandfather immigrated. Mr. Pauly was passionate about his service to his country, was a patriot at heart, and loved his family dearly. He loved well . . . was well-loved . . . and will be sorely missed.
Mr. Pauly is predeceased by his father, William Pauly; his mother, Lanie Francis (Thomason) Pauly; sisters, Mildred (Pauly) Haynie and Marion (Pauly) Ivey; brother, Carl Pauly; sons Burton Kelly Pauly and Eric King; nieces, Ellen Carroll and Sheila Pauly; and nephew, Mike Ritter.
Mr. Pauly is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Nancy (Steiner) Pauly; daughters, Rhonda Pauly, Benita Pauly, and Jennifer King; grandchildren Chance Baraks, Carly Powell, Stephen Austin King, and Silas King; great grandson, Colton Thomas King; brother, William Pauly, Jr.; nieces Vivian Neumann (Jeff), Yvonne Haynie, Marion Haynie, Annette Duncan (Ricky), Sandra Hicks, Diana South (Bobby), Susan Burr, and Cindie Brown; and nephews, Roland Ivey (Teresa), Johnie Haynie, Jr., and John Ritter (JoAnn).
There will be a time of visitation at Saint Stephen Catholic Community, 14544 Lebanon Pike, Old Hickory, TN, on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 1pm – 2pm. A Funeral Mass will follow at 2pm. Following the Mass, Mr. Pauly will be laid to rest in the Garden of Gethsemane at Hermitage Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN, with John Ritter, Wayne Fox, Ronnie Heath, Lucas Heath, Stephen King, and Chance Baraks serving as pallbearers. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Pauly family at HermitageFH.com.
