Paula Orton

It is with profound sadness that I am writing to tell you that my beautiful wife, Paula, passed away yesterday, August 31, 2020 at about 4PM. As most of you know, she was suffering from cancer and had been undergoing treatment for several months. She fought hard as was her nature. She was courageous to the end. Thankfully, we were able to have Paula at home during her final three weeks, and we were able to say our goodbyes and to express our profound love in many ways. Paula and I had been married for forty eight years and had been together for fifty years this weekend. Our son, Ford, and I will do our best to carry on. Paula was a person of great faith and is now in the arms of our Lord, but also has been reunited with our son, Ty, who passed away a little over a year ago. In the short term, our intent is to have a private service for her in our home. In addition to Ford and me, Paula is survived by three granddaughters, Avery Elizabeth Orton of Smith Lake, AL, Georgia Catherine Orton and Jolene Rosemary Orton of Milford, OH. She is also survived by Ty's wife, Rachel Pandorf Orton of Milford, OH and Rachel's family, all of the Cincinnati, OH area. Paula is also survived by her brother, Don Stapp and his wife, Janet, of Carlsbad, CA, by Linda Lantello and her husband, Rick, of Orange, CA, and her sister, Donna Stapp of Tustin, CA. as well as my brother and sister in law, Steve and Susan Orton of Atlanta. There are several beloved nieces and nephews as well. Paula was the youngest child of the late Col. Donald Stapp, USMC retired and Ellen Armitage Stapp. To Paula, family was always first. She was loyal and kind, always finding the good in everyone. She was a beloved Nana to her grandchildren and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. I want to thank all of you who have offered support to Ford and me throughout this terribly painful time. I am sure that we will speak soon, but I am deeply grateful for your prayers and kind thoughts offered over many weeks. We love all of you. Peace!