Paul L. Millirons, 89, of Huntsville, AL, died peacefully Thursday surrounded by his loving wife and family after a brief illness. Paul was born in Chattanooga, TN, and grew up in Fort Payne, Waverly, and Camp Hill, AL where he attended Lyman Ward Military Academy. After graduating from the University of Alabama, Paul enlisted in the United States Air Force and earned his commission as a second lieutenant with the class of 52-C. During the Korean War, Paul was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base flying the F-89D fighter interceptor. Additionally, during his tour of duty, Paul did considerable bush flying in his modified Piper J-3 Cub, which he had flown up to Alaska from Panama City, FL, a remarkable odyssey in the annals of aviation. He frequently enjoyed big game hunting in Alaska, returning home with a prize brown bear trophy.
After leaving the Air Force as a first lieutenant, Paul returned to Bama to obtain his Doctorate of Jurisprudence. He was on the Board of Editors of the Alabama Law Review, a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, and Kappa Alpha social fraternity. After graduation in 1958, Paul served as a clerk for Alabama Supreme Court Justice Warren Goodwyn. Six months later, he was appointed by Eisenhower as an Assistant United States Attorney in Montgomery, then moved to Atlanta be a trial attorney with the chief counsel’s office of the IRS.
In 1964, Paul moved to Huntsville to join the law firm of Watts, Salmon, Roberts and Stephens. In 1973, Paul and Arthur Stephens founded their own firm, which became Stephens, Millirons, Harrison, Gammons and Rawlison LLC, which they led together until retirement. In 2008, Paul received a Distinguished Service Award from the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association for his 50 years of loyal service.
Paul was a lifelong Republican, active at both the state and national levels and was a delegate to the 1988 National Republican Convention. He was a member of the Space City Lions Club, which led him to involvement with the Arc of Madison County where he was a board member and volunteer legal counsel for many decades. Paul was on the board of Early Works, and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Paul loved the water, whether at Panama City with his parents as a boy, or fishing and skiing on Lake Guntersville with his family and friends. He was an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer, having visited over 18 islands in the Caribbean and Gulf.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Paul C. and Elizabeth H. Millirons; his sister, Sue Funchess Jurado; and his nephew, Kenneth Funchess. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Patricia Marshall Millirons; children and step-children, Michele Millirons, Paula (Bill) Koelle, Suzanne (Jerry) Pruitt, Larry (Lisa) Marshall, Jr., Lee Anne Madole, Chris (Annie) Marshall; grandchildren, Heidi and Emily Koelle, Ryan (Brooks) Gaylord, Stephanie Stiglets, Hayden Madole, Evan Marshall, Graves and Holley Marshall; great-grandchildren, Sarah Brooks, and Patricia and Paul Gaylord; niece, Sue Funchess; numerous cousins; and special friends, including Rainey Rattanapan.
Pallbearers will be Bill Koelle, Ryan Gaylord, Hayden Madole, Evan Marshall, Graves Marshall and Matthew Harrison. Honorary pallbearers will be Judge Wallace Haralson, Klaus Rosinski, Dr. James E. Jackson, Arthur Stephens, James “Bo” Harrison, Judge Bruce Williams, Robert Gammons, Howard Sanderford, Skipper Tonsmire, Gary Wicks, and Tommy Siniard.
Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 2 in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene Street, Huntsville, AL, with the funeral to follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be on Tuesday, September 4 at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery. (www.laughlinservice.com)
Memorials may be made to The Arc of Madison County, 1100 Washington St, Huntsville, AL 35801; or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148.
