PAUL COMPTON RITES HELD HERE LAST SATURDAY

Paul Compton, Past Commander of the V.F.W. of Blair, died at noon Thursday of last week in the Methodist Hospital in Omaha where he had been a patient for the past several weeks. Deceased was born to Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Compton on a farm east of Lyons on July 11, 1904. When he grew to manhood he enlisted in the Marines where he served for eight years. He saw service in the tropics and was in active service in the Nicaraguan campaign where the fighting was intense.

It was during his service in the tropics that he picked up a germ which was destined to cause him much suffering, and in the end cause his death. Several operations for this trouble proved to be only temporary aids and each operation left him in worse condition than before.

He was an active member of the local V.F.W. chapter of which he served as commander for three years, and he did his job well. He took a great interest in helping the boys overseas in the present war and through his efforts shipment after shipment of cigarettes were sent to them.

Paul never married, but made his home with his widowed mother. He took a great interest in the home, and his main object seemed to be to make his mother comfortable.

He leaves to mourn him his mother; one sister, Mrs. John Reeh; and two brothers, William of Blair and Clyde in the armed forces.

He was a member of the Episcopal Church, of the Masonic Order of Nevada, Montana, and of the local V.F.W. organization.

Funeral services were conducted at the Episcopal Church last Saturday with Rev. A. J. Smith of the local church officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery under the auspices of the V.F.W. of which he had been an enthusiastic member.

#2 Printed in the May 4, 1944 Pilot-Tribune

Dies After A Long Illness

Paul Compton, 40, a veteran of eight years active Marine duty in China, the Philippines and the Hawaiian Islands, died last Thursday noon at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha. He had been critically ill in the hospital for four weeks and in failing health for several years prior to his death. Services were conducted at St. Mary's Episcopal church Saturday afternoon with Father Adelbert J. Smith officiating. Gravesides rites were conducted by the V. F. W. Post of which Compton had been a member of. Campbell Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

Born in Lyons, Nebraska July 11, 1903, Compton attended the Blair city schools, graduating from Blair High School. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps at San Diego, California on August 13, 1926 beginning a eight year term of service during which time he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a Good Conduct Metal Bar a second Nicaraguan Campaign Metal. Honorably discharge on August 1, 1930 at the termination of his first enlistment period. Compton immediately reenlisted on April 13, 1930 at Mare Island, California. He returned from China ten years ago and after several weeks in a Mare Island Hospital he was honorably discharged from the Marines on August 22, 1934, since then he has lived in Blair.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Ana Compton of Blair; a sister, Mrs. John Reeh of Blair and two brothers, William A. Compton of Blair and Clyde Compton of England.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #76935849