Paul Raymond Tougaw, 79, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020, after a long and valiant battle with cancer. He was born on June 24, 1940, in Mount Carmel, Illinois, to Lawrence and Goldie Tougaw. Paul left Mt. Carmel at the age of 17 to join the U.S. Army as a Land Combat Engineer. Paul proudly served for 23 years, rising to the rank of Missile Systems Chief Warrant Officer W3, until retiring from Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Paul’s deployments included tours in Italy and Korea, and he earned several military awards and decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He passed on his patriotism and love of country to his sons, who both followed in his military footsteps. Following his military service, Paul began working for Chrysler Pentastar until 1995.
Paul was a man of many talents and passions, including competitive boxing in his younger years. As a lifetime member of the VFW Post 8862 in Vicenza, Italy, Paul most recently used his woodworking and craftsman skills to create writing pens from exotic woods as gifts for members of the U.S. service branches and frontline workers through the Freedom Pen Project. Paul will also be remembered for sharing his love of hunting both game and mushrooms, fishing, bird watching, reading Zane Grey Westerns, and drinking fine Italian wines.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Frankie. He is survived by his beautiful and loving wife of 60 years, Ersilia, whom he met while serving in Vicenza, Italy; his three children, Lawrence Tougaw and wife Keri; Michael Tougaw; Debi Mullins and husband Ted; his seven grandchildren: Nina, Janelle, Joseph, Ersilia, Luke, Paolo and David; his eight great grandchildren: Braylin, Jaxton, Judith, Hank, Joseph, Graham, Brantley and Jane; his sister Janice Bobbitt; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
A service honoring Paul’s life will be held at Valhalla Funeral Home and Memory Gardens on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm. The family will receive friends and family from 11:00 am until 12:50 pm on Thursday.
