Paula Price Gatzke passed away peacefully March 11, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Harry W. Gatzke and two sons, Edward Price Gatzke and Paul Meyer Gatzke. Edward, his wife, Andrea, and their two children, Andrew and Elise live in Columbia, SC. Paul and his wife, Margaret, live in Madison, OH.
Paula was born at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Her family returned to Birmingham soon thereafter. Her father, Paul Lane Price, died of complications from appendicitis when she was only 19 months old. She grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood in close proximity to loving aunts, uncles, and grandparents, who gave their full assistance to her widowed mother.
In 1956, her mother, Lois Asbury, and new stepfather, Cecil F. Asbury, moved to Huntsville, where he was employed by the Army Missile Command. Paula attended Blossomwood School the year it opened. She graduated from Huntsville High School in 1963 and then attended the University of Alabama, where she majored in mathematics and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. After graduation she returned to Huntsville, where she was employed by Boeing as part of the Saturn V team. It was during this exciting time she met and married her husband, the luckiest guy in the world.
After the birth of her first child, Paula devoted her full attention to home and family. She enjoyed family trips, particularly to the Smoky Mountains, and spending time with her grandchildren.
In 1998, Paula was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She spent her remaining years dealing with the progression of this disease.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, March 16 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow in the chapel with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to National MS Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 (or by phone 1-800-344-4867) or to a charity of your choice.
