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Note: 1. Census information: *1940 census Judicial Twp. 3, Fresno Co, CA (709 Fisher Ave.): Paulson, Owen, head, m, w, 24, married, b. MT, ground man, public utilities, rents, $25 Phyllis, wife, f, w, 20, married, b. MI 2. Remembrances by daughter Cheryl Paulson Haas (Novemeber 1997): Owen Paulson was born in Helena, Montana and moved to California as a young boy. His family moved to a small town called Reward, California (it no longer exists although our Dad took us through there years ago to show us where it had been) where his father worked in the oil fields. His dad later got a job with the telephone company and they moved to Fresno. My dad went to Taft High School where he was on the track team and played the violin in the school orchestra. He was an excellent student and especially excelled in math. He went to Taft Junior College for two years and then transferred to the University of California at Berkley where he graduated with a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering in 1939. It was while he was a student at Cal Berkely that he met my mom. My dad was a quiet man who hardly ever lost his temper. He taught me such important qualities - mostly by example - such as honesty, integrity, kindness, importance of family, love of God and the values that are so important for a family today. Although Dad didn't talk a lot, when he did say something it was worth hearing. He was a caring husband and a loving father. He also liked to tease his "girls". When we were young and had been to a show or something he would say "How would you like a Scotch Malt?" and we'd all say "Yeah!!" picturing a thick creamy drink from the ice cream parlor. Then he'd walk us over to a drinking fountain and say "Here it is!" Another trick was to ask if we wanted a "timber float" and then give us a glass of water with a toothpick floating in it. Of course that only worked the first time, but he'd keep asking and we'd say "Oh Dad!" My dad worked in Oakland at an engineering frim until I was about 12 (1957) and his boss' name, to us girls, was Uncle Harry. Uncle Harry always kept candy bars in the drawer of his desk and when we girls would come to visit daddy at work, Uncle Harry would hold us on his lap and let us pick out a candy bar. Dad also worked with a man called Chet Williams and it seems whenever they drove somewhere this Chet Wiliams always found a parking place right in front of their destination. Because of that my mom and dad started saying they had found a "Chet Williams" when they found a close parking space. We use that term to this day and have passed it down to our children and even other family members and friends. Sometimes we just shorten it to "We found a Chetter!" My father was about 5'10" tall and slender with brown hair and eyes. He was a very handsome man, even as he aged. He loved to camp and dance and do jigsaw puzzles. He also liked to read and travel as my mom and dad got older. I'm so glad they got to travel to Europe, England, and South America before he died at age 62. One of my favorite memories was the day Dad stopped by my house in Thousand Oaks after he had visited a job site at Northrup Corp. in nearby Newbury Park. It was such a surprise to open my door and see him standing there. He came in and we sat in my kitchen and had a cup of coffee and just talked. He made me feel so special by taking the time to stop by and spend time with me. My dad was a gentle man and because of his quiet love I am able to see my heavenly Father in much the same way. I think my Dad had the finest Christian qualities and was a wonderful example to me. I look forward to the day I will join him in heaven and see his gentle smile again. 3. Remebrances of daughter Karen Paulson Saenz: Daddy was a lot like Grandma. He was a quiet, good, Godly man. He was an example of honesty and Christianity. One time when we went out to dinner the waitress didn't charge us enough and Daddy told her. I remember as a teenager seeing Daddy reading his Bible before he went to bed. I think he liked being surrounded by his girls although I'm sure there were times we frustrated him! He always had to wait for us when we went to church no matter how early he woke us up. I remember Daddy making Butterscotch biscuits on Sunday mornings. Sometimes we would get to help and the best part was getting to eat a small part of the dough raw with the butter, brown sugar, and nuts. Daddy liked to tease us girls too. When we would be half way out of town on our vacation he would say "Oh no! I forgot the vanity kit" something 3 teenage girls could not live without! He would tickle Mom's feet while she was sitting in her chair reading or watching T.V. just to get a rise out of her. Daddy could fix anything, make anything and he remembered geometry when I needed help with my homework in high school. On Saturdays Daddy would wash the car, mow the lawn and do other things around the house and then on Sunday after church we would go somewhere as a family. I've carried on this tradition with my own family. Daddy wasn't one to show his affection too much, but we always knew we were loved. I'll always remember on the night before my wedding we were sitting on the couch together and he reached over and held my hand. He didn't say anything - he didn't have to. Daddy loved to go camping for our vacations and so we went almost every year. While camping Daddy did all the cooking which I thought was pretty neat. He always got the campfire going before we girls got up and sometimes he would get up real early and go fishing and bring Mommy back a trout for breakfast - yuk! One year Ellie and Mom were in nursing school during the summer so he took just Cheryl and I camping to Mammouth Lake. What a special time together. Some of my fondest memories are of camping and sitting around the campfire singing as Daddy played his guitar. We'd sing songs like "On Top Of Old Smoky" "Oh You Can't Go To Heaven", "Beautiful Brown Eyes" and "Red River Valley". Daddy loved country and western music. Daddy played the violin as a young boy and when it came time for me to pick an instrument to play in the 3rd grade, I picked the violin because I could use Daddy's. I took lessons and played in the orchestra all through high school. I still have the violin. Although it's been more than 20 years since he died, I miss his sweet, gentle spirit. He was a good man, a good husband, and a good father. 4. Remebrances by daughter Eleanor Paulson Foust, November 1997: I remember Daddy's butterscotch biscuits baking in the oven...the wonderful aroma making our mouths water in anticipation. They were the highlight of our weekend (Daddy made them almost every Sunday). I still think of Daddy anytime I eat butterscotch biscuits. I remember Daddy going without extras so that he could take his family on special outings. One time, he took all of us to the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco for dinner. What a special evening and such a ritzy place! He also took us to Knotts Berry Farm for pioneer stew and that wonderful boysenberry jam that used to be made there. When we were little Dad would take us camping, usually to Yosemite where we stayed in Camp 7. This one particular year, I had forgotten my doll and was very despondent. I took a nap and when I woke up, Daddy had carved me a doll out of a piece of wood. I loved that doll...I wish I still had it! Daddy had a sense of humor too. One Saturday night, he had taken us all to the movies and on our way out, he asked if I would like a Scotch malt. I squealed with delight and he proceeded to lead me over to the drinking fountain and turned it on for me, explaining that this was a Scotsman's malt! Another time he asked me if I would like a timber float and of course I said "Yes!" A few minutes later, he gave me a glass of water with a toothpick in it! Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow...all were Daddy's favorites! He called county music shows his "concerts." He played the guitar and many nights we all sang songs, like "Red River Valley" around the campfire. At Christmas, before we could open our presents, Daddy would read the account of the birth of our Saviour from the book of Luke. He was a Godly man and responsible for the Spiritual leadership in our home...which ultimately led to my own salvation. God gave me the perfect father! 5. Remembrances by Aileen Paulson Weems (sister), November 2000: Owen was a wonderful brother, but he also would tease me a great deal. My mother would have to keep him from teasing me too much. Our family went camping as our main type of recreation. We moved to California when I was about 3 (1920) and lived in Reward where my Dad got a job working for the oil company. My mother's sister, Maude, and her husband, Harold Faull, were all ready living here. Uncle Harold had a job as a foreman with the oil company. My Dad started out working on the oil rigs and we lived in the smaller housing area. After a time, my dad started working with the phone system for the oil fields and we moved up the hill into a larger, nicer home. Owen and I would play on the large porch that went around three sides of the house. We would get into a cardboard box and Owen would "drive" us to a camping spot. I would have my doll and we would play "Bill and Mary". When we arrived at our destination, Owen would say, "Well, Mary, we're here" and I would answer "Okay, Bill, let's get our things unpacked and I'll make dinner." My Dad actually made Owen a car from metal that had wheels and a seat. He would also drive that around the porch. I remember that I had a friend that had a crush on Owen (we were in high school) and she came over one evening when she thought Owen would be there for dinner. She spent the entire afternoon primping and getting ready to see him, but when he came in with a friend, he hardly noticed her, much to her disappointment.
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