Paula Anita Walling

On March 14th, 2013, Paula Anita Walling peacefully passed on in the loving presence of long-time friends at the Carmel Hills Care Center.

Originally from Texas, Paula moved to Los Angeles, California with her mother and grand mother. It was while working as a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines that she fell in love with Big Sur and the people who lived there. After completing her BA at the University of Southern California, she moved to Carmel to begin a teaching career. She later received her MA from Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Paula taught with the Carmel Unified School District, devoting many years to teaching kindergarten and first grade at Captain Cooper School in Big Sur. During her career, she took part in the Teacher in Space program with NASA, and was one of the California finalists for the program. She was a beloved teacher, and her vibrant spirit allowed her to touch many students’ lives in ways that they would remember years later.

Her devotion to Big Sur led to pursuits that touched the lives of the coastal residents. She spent time as a reporter, photographer, columnist and editor for the Big Sur Gazette and The Coast Gazette. Paula also helped mount a fierce defense of the Big Sur coast throughout the 80‘s with Coast Property Owners Association, an endeavor that would prove to keep the area in the hands of the local residents.

After retiring, Paula pursued writing, and published Big Sur Inn: The Deetjen Legacy, which won the 2008 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Bronze Award. Her love of writing also led her to join the Central Coast Writers and Crossroads Writers Group. While retired, she volunteered much of her time with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers, and the Bring Me A Book Foundation.

Paula is survived by her son, Noel Douglas Walling, and by the many friends and acquaintances whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be scheduled in Big Sur at a date to be determined later. Please share your stories of Paula with [email protected] or Paula Walling Memorial, P.O. Box 1038, Carmel Valley, CA 93924.