Paul R. Dietlin, 77, US Navy Veteran

Paul was born January 2, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio and reared in Oberlin and graduated from Oberlin High School in 1943.

He served in the U. S. Navy in World War II as a shipboard radioman 3rd class on the U.S.S. Mercury. He received the American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal and four bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Medal with one star, and the Philippine Victory Medal.

He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and graduated from the Oberlin School of Commerce in 1948. Dietlin retired from the U. S. Post Office in Lorain in 1989 after 40 years of service. He was also employed for twenty-eight years by the Sheffield/Sheffield Lake Board of Education.

Dietlin served as a church usher for 32 years and as a deacon. He was a member of Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village. He was also a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Postal Retirees' Group. He enjoyed gardening, extensive traveling, and March Island.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years Dorothy (nee Barens); son Tim of Kewadin, Michigan; daughters Dr. Cathy Dietlin, of Vermilion; Mrs. Roger (Bonnie) Bowerman of Lorain; 5 grandchildren; brother Daniel of Amherst, sisters Margaret Rosenthal, Patricia Roberts, both of Oberlin, and Kathleen Ketchem of Elyria.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Esther (nee McGinty) Dietlin.

Friends may call on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Hemple Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst where funeral services will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. His personal friends the Rev. Robert Schroyer, associate pastor of Church of the Open Door and Rev. Kenneth Tucker of Bethel Baptist of Elyria will officiate. Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Community Health Partners Foundation; Dietlin Family Fund; or New Life Hospice Fund, 3700 Kolbe Rd., Lorain, OH 44053.