FIND A GRAVE Paul Ware O’Bannon Birth: Dec. 29, 1931 Missouri, USA Death: May 19, 2012 Vallejo, Solano County, California, USA Paul was Cremated and his ashes were placed in the same grave with his Mother. Never married Father: Virgil Elijah O’Bannon Mother: Mary Emma Ware ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STUDENT OF THE YEAR Every once in a while you come in contact with an outstanding individual you believe the world should know more about. This week’s such person is Paul Ware O’Bannon, a recent honor graduate of Acalanes High, Class of 1949. Paul graduated at the top of his class; was an Alcalahonor member; made California Scholastic Federation his last three years, then a Life Member upon graduation. Add to these, the $100 American Legion Scholarship Award, you then recognize the fact that the nation must, one day, be a little better off because of Paul’s great possibilities. In St. Louis, where Paul attended Gallaudet School, he was the youngest graduate in the school’s history–and, at the top of his class. A lover of good music, he studied piano, completing four grades in less than two years. At present, he is in the low-advanced class of one of the greatest teachers in this country. Why are these facts so outstanding? Just any number of normal youngsters have accomplished these things–in the same time, and in much the same way! Oh, no, they have not, my friend. These things are outstanding because Paul was born deaf. Since coming to Walnut Creek, his hearing has improved a few hearing points, but he depends, to a great extent, upon lip-reading to get full value of what is being said to him. Paul’s wonderful parents taught him to speak when he was growing toward school age. The patience of his wonderful and understanding mother; the faith she had in him; the dreams she built around this son were to some day fashion him for the cruel and competitive world. These things she realized, in some measure, the night Paul graduated from Acalanes when she said, “My life’s work is finished.” However, we like to feel that Paul’s work has just begun. Our heart goes out to Paul, and we wish him well when he enters the University of California next fall where he will major in the Library School of that great institution. Furthermore, we feel that Mrs. O’Bannon will still be helping Paul in many ways for, on July 3, 1949, Paul’s mother who had helped him so very, very much–and loved him so deeply, suddenly passed away and returned to Him Who gave her so brilliant a son.
Family links: Parents: Virgil Elijah O’Bannon (1897 – 1951) Mary Emma Ware O’Bannon (1897 – 1949) Burial: Alamo Cemetery Alamo, Contra Costa County, California, USA
Created by: Linda Moore Record added: Jun 06, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 91430559
Source: Family Search Memories
