Paul Gehrett, of Newtown, passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at Danbury Hospital. He was 93 years old.

Paul was the loving husband of Ellyn (Buehl) Gehrett, who passed away July 18, 2021. The couple had celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Born in June 1928 in Newton Hamilton, Pennsylvania, Paul was the fifth of five children to the late Florence (nee Parsons) and Robert R Gehrett. During his teen years the family moved to Lewistown, Penn., and Paul graduated from Lewistown High School. He enlisted in the army in 1946, where he served in the Allied Occupation Forces following World War II in Stuttgart, Germany. Following his discharge, he enrolled into Penn State University using the GI Bill. He met his future wife Ellyn on a blind double date. They hit it off right away and later in life he would describe Ellyn as “quite a dame” and the love of his life. They married shortly before Paul was called back into the service as the Korean conflict had begun. His eldest daughter, Christine, was born in Fort Lee, Virginia, where he served until he was discharged. Paul returned to Penn State — where his second child, Jane, was born — and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. He began what would turn out to be a lifelong career at General Electric as a Human Resources Specialist, climbing the corporate ladder first in Schenectady, N.Y., then following promotions to Johnson City, N.Y., New York, N.Y., and Fairfield, Conn. His proudest achievement at GE was developing the retirement plan that was used company wide and allowed employees to retire comfortably.

Wherever he lived, Paul was an active member of the church that he joined. First as a treasurer of the Union-Endicott, N.Y., Methodist Church and later of the Newtown Congregational Church as secretary and personnel committee member. Paul was a lover of music and had a beautiful baritone voice. He especially loved to listen to big band and classical music and helped to set up and administer Friends of Music in Newtown. He was always community focused and served for many years as a weekly helper at the Dorothy Day House kitchen in Danbury through the Newtown Rotary Club. He had been a proud member of the Newtown Rotary where he was a four-time Paul Harris Award winner. He actively helped organize the annual Pancake Breakfasts, Labor Day Parades, and Golf Tournament Fundraisers. Most of all, he enjoyed Rotary meetings with fellow Rotarian friends, connecting and listening to their life stories.

Above all, Paul enjoyed time spent with family, especially vacationing at their second home in Bethany Beach, Delaware. His greatest joy was watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. He and Ellyn loved dogs and supported the Golden Retriever Rescue, adopted Golden Retrievers and homeless cats, and for many years supported the local animal shelter. Paul always loved to garden and enjoyed growing vegetables well into his later years.

Paul always led by example and tried to do what was right and good. This was the example that he set for his daughters and in every organization he joined. He was always determined that his family was well provided for — he said that is what a man does. Every holiday was spent with family gathered around the dinner table. Dinner was never served without a prayer before serving and eating. He had great faith and was a strong believer; church every Sunday was a given. Paul was not a big phone conversationalist; he would talk for one minute and say, “Let me give you to your mother or grandmother.” He enjoyed basking in the company of friends and family while letting his wife carry the conversation. He dearly loved his wife and desperately missed her when she was gone. He loved his dogs and would sit on the floor to give them ear scratches and belly rubs. He regretted that his last cat, Frankie, who was a rescued feral cat, would not sit on his lap to be petted. In his younger years, Paul would always try to spend one day on the weekend playing golf with friends and enjoyed a regularly scheduled poker night. He always expected the best from his family because that is what he expected from himself. He was always kind and thoughtful. He had a dry sense of humor that his grandchildren especially enjoyed. As his health began to fail and his doctor discussed options, he just said, “Tell me what I need to do,” and then he followed those instructions to the letter.

Paul is survived by his daughters, Christine Falvello (Conrad) of Drums, Penn., and Jane Holland of Perkasie, Penn.; by his beloved grandchildren, Anthony (Bella), Alexis, Christina (Jon), Colin (Amy), Patrick (Brooke), and Annie; and great-grandchildren, Wilson, Vittoria, Salvatore, Joseph, and Paul.

Services and internment to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Rotary Club of Newtown, which is accessible through newtownctrotary.org.