Otto Harrison Pauley, Jr., age 99, of Alum Creek, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2017. He was born August 27, 1917, the oldest son of Otto Harrison Pauley, Sr. and Essie McClure Pauley in Dawes, West Virginia.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Betty Kinder Pauley, sisters Dona Phillips and Athlene Tackett, and brothers Odie and William Pauley.
Left to treasure his memory are his daughters Vicki Hess and husband Reed of Alum Creek, Dawn Pauley and husband Joe Foley of Davis Creek, and Kimberly Kelly and husband David of South Charleston. Surviving grandchildren include granddaughter Paige Hill and husband Rex of Charleston and grandsons Brooks and Logan Gillenwater of South Charleston, and Jose Foley of Davis Creek. Also surviving are great grandchildren Serena and Hunter Hill of Charleston. He is survived by one brother, Arthur Pauley of Sumerco, and sisters Helen Moore of Florida, Emma White of Crosby, Texas, and Virginia Iris Lewis of Belle, West Virginia. Additionally, he is survived by numerous nephews and nieces.
With a quick mind and a love for books, Otto attended a one-room schoolhouse in Sumerco and graduated 
from Duval High School. He then proudly served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater with the Company L 20th Infantry of the US Army. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and various ribbons acknowledging his honorable and faithful service. After 4 years and 5 months service to his country, he returned home to Lincoln County to the fields and hills he loved vowing to never leave again.
He returned home in poor health and was treated for tuberculosis at Pinecrest Sanitarium in Beckley, West Virginia, where he met his lifelong companion, married her, and began to raise a family. To support his family, he worked first as a newspaper carrier for Daily Mail and later as a carpenter, but the work he really loved was coaxing food from his garden each summer. He was an avid gardener who loved the soil.
He was a person of many passions. He was a rare man equally at home in his garden or the library. Above all, he loved his family and was intensely loyal to friends. He will be missed by many.
The grateful family wishes to thank the staff at Oakridge Rehabilitation Center and the Charleston Memorial Hospital staff in the emergency room, the MICU, and Five South for their compassionate care of our father.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday evening, at Curry Funeral Home. The service will be conducted on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the funeral home, with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will be at Orchard Hills Memorial Gardens with military rites.
May, 15, 2017
Dear Dawn….
I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you. I am glad we saw each other Mother’s Day and you told me if Otto’s Passing. I am so glad a few years ago when I was driving in Alum Creek and decided to stop and visit with Betty and Otto. A lovely day as They talked with pride about all of you and their grandchildren.
So here we are..with our parents in Heaven…memories are forever. As ours will be.
Sending sympathy and prayers for you,Kim, Vicki, and your children.
Love you Dawn
Thank you for your service to our country Mr. Pauley!
Words seem inadequate to express the sorrow felt by the loss of such a loved one. My heart is with you. As well as this beautiful encouraging promise, John 5:28,29 “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” Imagine that day when all our dear loved ones are brought back to life through a resurrection and reunited with us again. What a truly beautiful promise of comfort and hope and how we long for that special day so close at hand.
Dawn,
So sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. Thoughts and prayers will be with you and family in the coming days, weeks and months. The love and prayers will help in the days ahead.
I see a friend in dreams
I feel the pain in part
To see you sad hurts me
Pray for you from my heart
I visualize daily you’re fine
Hearing sadness in flow
Helpless even though willing
Praying for you, just know
Wayne
Many great memories of Uncle Otto. I’ll never forget the time he drove my youngest son, Zach, and I over on Coal River so Zach could fish..I loved sitting in the living room and listening to his many stories from” back in the day”, He always had a beautiful garden and I never left without taking a sack of tomatoes back home to Ohio with me. He will be terribly missed. Vicki, Dawn, Kim, and families, you are all in my thoughts & prayers. I love you all.
So proud to have been his niece. I have such fond memories of spending time at Betty and Otto’s when I was a young kid. It was my second home when visiting Alum Creek. He was such a hard worker, loyal and a true family man. I enjoyed listening to his life stories. Pauley girls and families, I love you. You all are in my prayers.