William Raymond Paschal passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was born in Oklahoma City on Nov. 2, 1920, to Ernest Raymond and Mildred (Leddy) Paschal. After graduating from Central High School, he made his way to New York City, where he sold postcards at the 1939 World’s Fair, and also worked as a lab technician at the Rockefeller Institute. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1942 and the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1945. He was enlisted in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1947.
In 1946, he married Lois Marie “Mickey” Johnston, with whom he raised five children. They were married for 67 years until Mickey’s death in 2013.
In 1952, he established his medical practice in Oklahoma City and was one of the founding physicians at Baptist Medical Hospital. Beginning in 1927, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. In 2006, after retiring from his practice, Bill and Mickey moved to Pagosa Springs to be near their daughter and her family. Bill loved his family and his library of over 2,000 books.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ernestine Fuller; his wife, Mickey; and son William Raymond Paschal, Jr. He is survived by his children, John Mark Paschal and partner, Billy Usery, of Oklahoma City; Carolyn Paschal, of Pagosa Springs; David Paschal, of Austin, Texas; and Allen Paschal and wife Adrienne, of Fort Worth, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, Bob, and wife, Norma, of Georgetown, Texas; and niece Eugenia Stephens, of San Antonio, Texas. “Pepaw” was also dearly loved by his 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for both Bill and Mickey will be held at a date to be announced in the spring of 2015 in Oklahoma City. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
