Paul Eugene Bernard was swept into the loving arms of Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior on December 1, 2024.

He was born on August 24, 1931, on a family farm in Swanton, Maryland. His loving parents were Lambert Riley Bernard and Hazel Ellen (Howell) Bernard. He was the second born of eight children. Sadly, two of his siblings passed away as infants. He spoke of them often.

Hard work is all he ever knew as a child growing up on a 78-acre milk, beef, and all-around farm during the great depression. He worked in the fields and took care of livestock with his father, grandfather, and brothers.

He was driving a horse-pulled dump rake at the age of five years old. He had to stand up otherwise he couldn't reach the dump lever from the seat. Oftentimes, he would steal sugar cubes from his mother's sugar bowl when she wasn't looking to feed the horses. He always said he loved the nuzzle of the horses against his face. He used to save an extra few pieces of breakfast bacon in his bib overalls to eat later while working the fields as a child. He absolutely loved his mother's homemade buckwheat cakes. He had a favorite farm dog named Jack who was eager to get to work with the cattle when he heard the milk bottles rattling.

He attended a one-room schoolhouse from first grade to seventh grade called Black Hawk Poly Tech.

He loved his schoolteacher and often reminisced about how she pitched baseball games with the children at recess. In fact, if they had a good baseball game going, she would often extend recess until they broke a tie.

He loved babies. He enjoyed holding his younger siblings when they were infants. Moreover, he would often ask his sister to put the newest addition in his arms each night when he came in from working hard on the farm. He often sat up late to take the last canner off so his exhausted mother could go to bed. He also would volunteer to stay up past bedtime with a good book in hand, tending to baby chicks beside an oil lamp in the chicken house. He was an avid reader. He played the guitar really well and loved performing with a small group at barn dances as a young man.

He graduated from Oakland High School in 1948. He always dreamed of being a veterinarian or a horse jockey.

He enlisted with the United States Air Force on January 4, 1951. He went to Lackland Air Force Base for 13 weeks of basic training in Texas. From there, he flew to Denver Colorado, Lowery Field, for eight weeks of supply and warehousing education. He came home for one month and then flew from home to Pittsburg, California, and then to San Francisco. He took a taxi back to Pittsburg, California to board a ship to Japan.

He rode the railroad to Iwakuni Japan. He was there for one month before transferring to Korea. He flew to Korea from Iwakuni Japan. He was in the Air Force 3rd Bomb Wing.

He was assigned to 3rd Supply Squadron and transportation. He transported ammunition, mortars, and machine guns to the front lines. He served in Korea from January 4, 1951, to June 8, 1953. His mother knelt in the living room each day praying for his safe return. After the war, he married Violet N. Wilson. They were married for 66 years. They missed their 67th year by two months due to Violet's passing. They had two daughters, Delores Jean in 1954 and Susan Ellen in 1966. Paul, Violet, and Delores moved to Hagerstown, Maryland in the mid-fifties. Susan was born years later. He had various jobs which included the Maryland State Roads Commission, Dupont, and Fairchild Industries. He finally landed a great job with the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier. He scored so high on the civil service test that they asked him what college he attended.

He served as a United States Letter Carrier for 35 years. Everyone in the West End of Hagerstown loved their mailman.

He was an avid hunter. He lived and breathed hunting white-tailed deer every single season in Garrett County, Maryland. He enjoyed spending time with his parents, immediate family, and siblings often at the farm in Garrett County.

He loved to garden and even preserved and grew 100-year-old tomato seeds that his mother had saved.

His favorite writer was Louis Lamar. He loved John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies He adored Tom T. Hall, Johnny Cash, Allison Krause, Union Station, and so many other country and bluegrass artists. He read three newspapers a day, liked to shop for good bargains, and kept the house supplied with plenty of food to eat. He always provided his wife, daughters, and grandchildren with beautiful clothes, shoes, and Sunday School dresses. He graciously paid for many years of piano lessons for his children. He never came to visit his daughters empty-handed. He unfailingly came to their door with his arms full of food or household goods. He took his wife and children to see their grandparents and cousins in Kingwood, WV, and Swanton, Maryland frequently. He took his daughters to Hagerstown City Park to feed the swans breadcrumbs on Sunday afternoons. Sunday drives in the country and ice cream cones from Superior Dairy were a big favorite. He always told his children and grandchildren that he loved them, whether saying goodbye on a phone call or in person. He never gossiped. He was tenacious. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior when he was around 16 years old while attending a revival meeting held by Brother Long and his wife who were traveling preachers and singers. He re-dedicated his life to Jesus in the 1980's. He did the best he could with what he knew how. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather protector, nurturer, and provider. He was a good neighbor. He was honest. He was a faithful member of the Assemblies of God. He is survived by two devoted daughters, Delores Beideman (Bill) and Susan McMullen (Mike), five granddaughters, one grandson, one great-grandson, one great-granddaughter, three brothers, two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 2pm Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown, MD. Rev. Sam Woolcock, Chaplain of the KWVA Antietam Chapter #32 will officiate. Burial will be in Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 12-2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.