Paul Douglas Withington

PHELPS-Paul Douglas Withington, age 83, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.  He was born June 21, 1934, in Toronto, the eldest child of Douglas John Withington and Germaine Marie Raymond. His family moved to Pennsylvania from Canada in 1953. After graduating from Malvern Prep School, Paul attended Dartmouth College where he studied United States History. Following his graduation from Dartmouth in 1956, he served as a U.S. Naval Historian in the National Archives in Washington D.C., and was honorably discharged in 1958. He met Suzanne Sieg in 1957, and they were married at the Army Navy Country Club on Sept. 19, 1959.  They began their life together with Paul working for the Wall Street Journal in New York City. They subsequently moved to Chicago, then Milwaukee, back to New York City, and finally settled in Woodstock, Ill.  After retiring from the Wall Street Journal he and the family moved to Wausau, Wisconsin where he was Director of Communications at Wausau Insurance. At that time the family also started creating what would be nearly 40 years of happy memories and traditions at their cottage in Phelps, Wisconsin.  After leaving Wausau, Paul and Suzanne eventually settled in Madison, where they lived happily for 14 years until Suzanne’s passing in October 2009. At that time Paul settled at his beloved cottage in Phelps until his passing.  He was known for his love of the outdoors, endless zest for exploring the continent, eloquent speech, and boundless energy. Paul completed 20 marathons after the age of 50, and skied at least as many Birkebeiner races.  Paul is survived by his sister, Denise Harnly of Seattle, Wash.; his children, Lisa (Karl) Vasiloff and their children, Max and Paul of Newton, Mass.; Douglas (Jennifer) and their children, Christopher and Charlie of Western Springs, Ill.; and Valerie (Bill) and their children, Caroline, Emma and Will of Huntington Beach, Calif. He was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne; and his brother, Richard of Ottawa.  In the last eight years of his life he made many trips across the country to visit his friends, children and grandchildren, and true to character, attended nearly every high school and college graduation.  A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from noon until the time of the service on Sunday.  Interment will be held at Resurrection Cemetery on Monday where he will be laid to rest next to Suzanne.  In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Paul Withington to the Birkebeiner Foundation, PO Box 911, Hayward WI 54843.  Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420