MILLFIELD — Paul Kilzer, 87, of Hooper Ridge passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on April 4, 2023, at his home after an extended illness.
Paul was born on January 20, 1936, to Ernest and Mae Unger Kilzer in the Marr Sycamore Valley area of Monroe County, Ohio. After he graduated from Bethel High School in 1954, he attended Ohio University. There he met his best friend and love of his life, Mary Ann Linscott Kilzer, while they both worked at Baker Center’s Frontier Room. Paul and Mary Ann celebrated 66 years of marriage on January 28.
Paul worked for Union Carbide, then returned to Ohio University as equipment room manager at Grover Center, where he worked for more than 35 years until he retired in 1999. Through his years at Grover Center, he met lifetime friends and was considered a mentor by many students.
Paul enjoyed showing his quarter horse, Brock, in early years. He was also an avid outdoorsman, enjoying bass fishing and gun and bow hunting. Paul enjoyed farming, especially raising Charolais cattle and spending time on the Massey Ferguson on his Poverty Knob farm. Paul was a member of the NRA and an advocate of the Second Amendment. He recently accepted Christ and was a member of McDougal Church.
Besides his wife he is survived by his children, Cathy (Stanley) Strode of Chesterhill, Louis (Kerensa) Kilzer of Amesville and Krista (Tim) Antle of Athens; grandchildren Nathan (Maggie) Strode, Kimberly (Steve) Shuster, Rebecca (Samuel) Thompson, Klayton Kilzer, Jacob Antle, Maralee Antle and Grace Antle; great-grandchildren Austin (Sami) Strode, McKensie Strode, Brayden Strode, Kaitlyn, Breanna Thompson, Micah Thompson and Mia Shuster; great-great-grandchildren Asher and Nova Strode; a childhood friend, LaVerne Winland; and several cousins.
In addition to his parents, Paul is preceded in death by an infant brother, Melvin Kilzer, and a special cousin, AJ Baker.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, with Stanley Strode officiating. Burial will be in Hooper Ridge Cemetery, Amesville. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ohio Health Hospice, 3430 OhioHealth Parkway Floor 3 Columbus, OH 43202. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
