Paul “Zig” Ethan Zender

Paul Ethan (Zig) Zender 91, Born March 31, 1923 passed peacefully at LMH Thursday May 22, 2014.

A very kind, thoughtful, strong, loving, helpful, handsome, generous, and funny friend, husband and father, passed peacefully from this life to a heavenly life with CHRIST. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; brother; and daughter, Franci Zender Chaffin.

He lived a life of the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Paul was born in Donora, PA, the family moved to New Kensington, PA where he graduated from High School in 1941. After High School he enrolled at Penn State with a football scholarship working on a Mechanical Engineering degree. In January 1943 he was drafted in the Military at the beginning of WW II. He did his basic training in Boston, MA. He spent 18 days on a ship traveling to England. Three days after the invasion he came ashore on Omaha Beach.

At the end of the war, he returned Stateside, with another football scholarship to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA. In 1947 he played in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas with 35 veterans on his team.

In 1951 he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from VPI (Virginia Tech).

He began his career with Hercules Incorporated 1951. He was employed as chief project Engineer with three companies: Radford Army Ammunition Plant, Virginia, Allegheny Ballistics, Cumberland Maryland, and Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, Lawrence KS. He retired April 1^st 1985.

In 1955 he met his best friend and love of his life, Sandra Patricia Wickham in Christiansburg Virginia. They have been married 59 beautiful, fun, and loving years.

He leaves behind his wife, Sandra and his daughter, Mary Paul Zender Paden and husband, Brian Paden; a sister, Lois Crawford of Ohio; and son-in-law, Cris Chaffin. He had four wonderful grandchildren: Chelsy Chaffin Larson, Paul Chaffin, Wrenn Paden, and Cale Paden; one great grandson, Elijah Chaffin King; nieces and nephew, Sherry, Val, Pam, Steve; and good friend, Doug Carter.

Paul enjoyed his volunteer services to Trinity Lutheran Church, which included choir, mowing, bulletins, counting offerings, and sharing humorous jokes with the pastor.

Services will be on June 7^th at 2:00 pm. The Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church of Lawrence Kansas. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence Memorial Hospital or Lawrence Humane Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, 120 W. 13^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.