Barbara (Brite) Elaine Paul

Barbara Brite Paul, age 81, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, was born July 13, 1935 in Norman, Oklahoma, to Cecil H. and Ruth F. Brite. She died peacefully in Oklahoma City on September 20, 2016, after a lengthy illness. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, William G. Paul, two children and 5 grandchildren, a daughter, Elaine Paul Seidel of Pacific Palisades, California and a son, William Stephen Paul of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Her grandchildren include William Scott Seidel, Lauren Elaine Seidel and Addison Brite Seidel of Pacific Palisades, California; and William Thomas Paul and Megan Marie Paul of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She is also survived .by two step-children and two step-grandchildren; step-son George L. Paul of Phoenix, Arizona, step­ daughter, Alison Paul Miller of Portland, Oregon; and step­ grandchildren, Braden N. Miller and Madeline C. Miller of Portland, Oregon. Barbara attended Norman Public Schools and graduated from Norman High School in 1953. She attended the University of Oklahoma and received her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1956, graduating in 3 years. During her college years she was very active in student affairs, was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and served as Rush Chairman. She was runner-up for Homecoming Queen and worked on the student staff producing the Sooner Yearbook. Upon graduation from OU she accepted a teaching position in Coronado, California where she taught kindergarten for 4 years. In 1960 she returned to Norman and accepted a position teaching 2nd grade for 3 years. On September 27, 1963 she married William Paul and moved to Oklahoma City. While there she was active in the Oklahoma City Symphony League, Casady School, P.E.O., Daisy Dames Garden Club, a book club, Quail Creek Golf & Country Club and taught a children's Sunday School class in First Presbyterian Church and later in Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was also very involved in her husband's professional activities, including recruiting for his law firm, Crowe & Dunlevy, and was active in Oklahoma County Bar Auxiliary. In 1971 she was First Lady of the Oklahoma County Bar Association and in 1976 was First Lady of the Oklahoma Bar Association. In 1985 she moved with her husband to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where he was General Counsel of Phillips Petroleum Company. She traveled extensively with him on Phillips business in the United States and to England, Scotland, Norway and Belgium. In Bartlesville she was active in OK Mozart, Girl Scouts, Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, First Presbyterian Church and was a member of Hillcrest Golf & Country Club. During that time she was President of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra Society, composed of leaders and representatives of all the symphony orchestras in the state. In 1996 she returned to Oklahoma City with her husband who resumed his law practice with the Crowe & Dunlevy law firm. She became a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She accompanied her husband to meetings of various professional boards and associations, throughout the country and to Canada, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, China, India, England, France and Germany. In 1999-2000 she served as First Lady of the American Bar Association, traveling to London in July, 2000 and participating in many memorable activities including a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and Tea with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. She was long active in alumni affairs of the University of Oklahoma, serving two terms as President of the Bizzell Memorial Library Society, two terms as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and several terms as a member of the Board of Visitors of the College of Education. She financed an early education computer learning center in the College of Education and endowed the renovation of the fifth floor foyer in the library, which bears her name. She also financed the office suite of the women's softball team coach at OU. In 2014 she became a member of the Seed Sower Society. She was previously honored as a recipient of the prestigious OU Regents' Outstanding Alumni Award. Barbara loved the ocean. For several years she and her husband co­ owned a condominium on Maui. In 1995 they acquired a condominium on the beach in Coronado, California and spent about 3 months a year there. Barbara served as a member of the board of their condominium association. She also loved her dogs, the last being Hershey, her beloved Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Above all, Barbara loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. Funeral arrangements are handled by Smith & Kernke of Oklahoma City. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City at 4400 North Shartel on Saturday, September 24 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the University of Oklahoma Foundation at 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0685 or to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Society at 424 Colcord Drive, Suite B, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.