Larene M. Paul

LaRene M. Paul of Clackamas died Sunday, March 26th at Providence Milwaukie Hospital, at the age of 96.



LaRene was born in Portland, OR, in May of 1926; at age 5 months she was adopted by Adrian G. and Lola (Grishan) Thompson.  LaRene adored her parents throughout her life.



She was raised in Medford, OR, where she reaped the benefits of living in a small town.  She graduated from Medford High School, then attended the University of Oregon in Eugene.  After two years she became employed in telephone communications.  During a union meeting, a delegate from the Communication Workers of America (CWA) recognized her ability to lead and her assertiveness; she was hired by the union as a negotiator for hundreds of workers in dozens of Oregon towns.  Just a few years after hiring, LaRene was nearly killed in an auto accident that left her with many scars.  However, she worked hard at recovery, resumed her place in the union and was soon promoted to regional negotiator where she was known for working hard for the rights of workers.  When she retired in 1978 she was the west coast regional representative for the CWA.



In 1965 she met Charles Paul, a sergeant in the US Air Force, while living in Novato, CA.  They were married the following year.  They loved to travel and visited many Pacific Rim countries, and enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii, where they went several times.



LaRene was an only child. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Charles Paul.  She is survived by her stepchildren, Virginia Davis-Tichrob, 78, of Canby, OR, and David Paul, 73, of Gladstone, OR.  David's wife Linda, bonded early with LaRene, they loved each other like mother and daughter.



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution in LaRene's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project.