| Obituary from the online edition of the
Austin American Statesman
Colonel Paul J. Mascot passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, March 26, 2003. Paul was born on June 1, 1920, in Los Angeles, California. He attended UCLA until enlisting in the U.S. Army Corps' Aviation Cadet Program in 1941. He received his pilot's wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in April 1942. During World War II, Paul served as a B-17 instructor pilot in Florida where he met and married his beloved wife of 58 years, Virginia Pearsall of Richmond, Virginia, an Air Corps nurse. Six weeks after their marriage, Paul was sent to India where he spent a year flying aircraft over "The Hump" into China. Paul stayed in the Air Force until 1971, serving in a variety of flying, staff, and command positions throughout the world. The high point of his career was his service in Viet Nam flying C-7A "Caribou" transports as commander of the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing during 1966 and 1967. His awards include the Legion of Merit (2), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (5), and Command Pilot wings. After his retirement, Paul moved to Austin where he became active in community affairs. He served on the Travis County Grand Jury and was a longtime member of the Travis County Grand Jury Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Balcones Country Club Association. Paul served for many years as an election judge and Republican precinct chairman. He was a member of the Order of Daedalians, the Hump Pilots Association, the C-7A Caribou Association and the Retired Officers Association. He was a member of St. Thomas More parish in Austin. Paul is survived by his wife, Virginia; his son, Paul and his daughter- in-law, Becky of Austin; his son, Tom, daughter-in-law, Patti, and granddaughters, Elizabeth and Rebecca of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother, Tim, his sister-in-law, Dana, and niece, Annabella of Los Angeles; his honorary granddaughter, Virginia Neff of Austin; and his faithful canine buddy, Spunky. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Cook-Walden Chapel of The Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road. Paul's funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 31, 2003, at Cook-Walden Chapel of The Hills Funeral Home with Monsignor Fred Bomar officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio at 2:15 p.m. with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital or to Hospice Austin. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Hospice Austin; to Paul's caregivers Rosemary, Quincy, Louise and Josh; to Greg and Lanell Neff and to all of the friends who were supportive during Paul's illness. Honoring Colonel Mascot as pallbearers are MG Gordon Blood, BG Lon Walter, Col. Bob Brooking, Col. Jim Harris, Col. Henry Fouts, LTC Ben Sellers, and Mr. Greg Neff. |
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