Paul A. Newcomb

PAUL ALLEN NEWCOMB

Those we love don’t go away … they walk beside us every day.  Retired 1SG/MSG Paul Allen Newcomb peacefully crossed over February 4th 2023 at his home in New Market TN, with his family by his side and after a 3-year battle with Glioblastoma Stage IV Brain Cancer.   He loved his God, family, friends, faithful dog Max, his old red Ford 350 Diesel, and his John Deere tractor.  Paul’s favorite times involved cross-country traveling and sightseeing; RV camping; and hysterically funny, cutthroat, and competitive ping pong, Aggravation, Shears, Phase 10, UNO, and Rook games with family.

Born December 3d 1957 in San Francisco CA to Douglas Newcomb and Ruth Taylor, he grew up in Guerneville CA, graduating in 1976 from El Molino High School.  Paul joined the Army in 1977, with his first assignment at Fort Knox KY, where he met his wife, Myrna.  From there tours followed at Fort Ord CA; Bamberg Germany; Fort Lee VA; Camp Casey Korea; Fort Bragg NC; then finally back to Fort Lee VA where he retired in 1997 after 21 years’ service.  He also served in Somalia, Haiti, and Egypt (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) and other military deployments, a member of the Quartermaster Corps.  After the military Paul worked as a Federal Civil Service employee for the Army at Fort Lee, serving as a Training Developer for Soldiers for another 21 years, retiring again in 2019.  After 35 years in Virginia, Paul and Myrna moved to New Market TN in 2020.

An avid athlete, he loved sports including racquetball, wrestling, football and flag football, baseball, softball, swimming, running, basketball, boxing, golf, and rappelling.  He played and competed in racquetball over 35 years, achieving Open level rank; he also played on the prestigious All-Army Racquetball team while on Active Duty.  Paul loved the game so much that he gladly mentored young players, spending hours helping them to improve their game and skills.  Famous for his racquetball “dives” and kill shots, he was a joy to watch on the court and ever quick to draw a spectator crowd during his matches.  While stationed in Germany, he coached and wrestled on the Bamberg Community Wrestling team and helped lead them to a VII Corps Title victory; he was extremely proud that eight of his team members went on to compete at USAREUR and one was selected for All-Army Wrestling.  And while at Fort Ord, Paul also played centerfield for the Monterey Seals semi-pro softball team, along with his brother Steve; great memories!

Survived by his wife, Myrna Honeycutt Newcomb of New Market TN; daughter, Kristi Whitley, also of New Market; mother and stepfather, Ruth and Tom Springer of Petaluma CA; brother Douglas (Joann) of Sharps Chapel TN; brother Steven (Colleen) of Santa Rosa CA; sister Kathy (Terry) Sheets of Cazadero CA; sister Laurie Decarly of Guerneville CA; many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws; and, of course, his dog Max.  Paul was preceded in death by his father, Douglas; his grandmother, Mary; several loving and close Uncles who helped provide him a firm foundation growing up; nephew Ed; and his beloved and greatly missed grandson, Nicholas Ryan Whitley, aka “Turtle.”

What a wonderful son, husband, father, brother, uncle … we will forever cherish his memory, and laugh and tell great (true and tall) stories about him around our campfires.

Grateful thanks to Dr. Mailien Rogers and staff at Thompson Oncology in Morristown TN, for their outstanding, compassionate care and support.

Arrangements and cremation under the care of Farrar Funeral Home of Jefferson City TN, a service/Life Celebration with military honors will be planned for a later date.

Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN  865-475-3892

www.farrarfuneralhome.com