Paul William Heller

Paul William Heller was born in the city of Glendale, California on September 23, 1929, to parents Paul and Dora, who emigrated in the early 1920’s from Germany.  Paul and his sister Dorothy “Dottie” grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended Polytechnic.  Paul eventually joined the US Navy in 1946 and was stationed on the USS Tappahannock (oil rigger). 

Paul was introduced to the love of his life, Betty Randles by his best friend Roland.  Their first date was to the movies followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant.  A couple at a nearby table assuming that Paul and Betty were newly married, paid for both of their meals.  Paul and Betty were engaged while camping at Yosemite and 3 months later married on December 11, 1948. 

In August 1949 they welcomed Paul Stephen, followed by Diana Lee in September 1950.  Linda Jean was born in January 1952.  The party of five lived in Downey, California where Paul was a maintenance supervisor for the City of Downey.  Paul and Betty loved the outdoors and raised their children camping and eventually joined the Chuckwalla Jeep club. 

Because of their mutual love of the outdoors, Paul and Betty bought an old rustic cabin in Big Bear Lake California in 1974 in the hopes that future generations would love and enjoy it for many years to come.  They began building a larger home in 1980.  They both retired and moved to Big Bear permanently in 1995.

Their retirement years were spent traveling and visiting many historical venues.  They travelled the US and saw all the lighthouses on both the west and east coasts, and visited all but two of the presidential libraries.  During their travels across the USA three times, they also spent many loving memories visiting family.  When they settled down in Big Bear Lake, they joined the historical society, volunteered with the CHP, and worked at the local Big Bear Valley historical museum.

Paul and Betty doted on their 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  Paul found enjoyment in teasing many of his family with his iconic smirk and sense of humor.  A great story he often told was of being swallowed by a whale while in the Navy, and the eventual “toot” that allowed him to escape. 

Paul and Betty recently celebrated 69 years of marriage in December, and went to dinner at their favorite restaurant in Big Bear, the Peppercorn Grille, where ironically their meals had been paid for by another couple who had been seated near them.

Paul was loved by all and never met a stranger.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul William Heller, please visit our floral store.