Paul Howard Slemp, born April 16, 1948, in Keokee, Virginia, youngest son of Will Raymond Slemp and Eula Mavis Rhoten Slemp went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 1, 2024 surrounded by loving family. While waiting for the Lord to take him home he was visited by many out of town family and friends, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Colorado and Indiana. He was a man truly blessed by the love of others.

Paul had a hard childhood. His mother died when he was 9 and his father died when he was 15. His sisters and brothers did their best to raise him until he decided to be on his own.

Paul married Linda Hitchcock on November 27, 1968. They were married in Crown Point, Indiana and lived in Hammond, Indiana for 3 years. Together they had 3 handsome boys, Paul Jr, Lawrence (Larry), and Timothy (Timmy).

Paul was loved by so many and will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. He was a very talented man, with only an 8th grade education, he was a magician with his metal talents and people skills. He could create anything with metal from clothesline poles, log splitters as big as drag cars, to fully functional cannons. To date Paul has made 19 cannons for his family. He credited his knowledge of welding to Glen Bays, his mentor and father figure when he worked at G&N Sheeters in East Chicago, Indiana.

Paul started his welding career at the age of 16. He worked for Union Iron Works, East Chicago, Indiana, G&N Sheeters, East Chicago, Indiana, Graver Tank, East Chicago, Indiana. Linda and he decided they wanted to move to central Illinois. Paul was hired by Sol Tick & Co, in Decatur, Illinois, working until Sol Tick bought out Sol Tick, he continued to work for Mervis Industries, until retiring after forty-two (42) years in the scrap yard business. He was a mentor and teacher to many men hired into the company. Paul had a reputation as one of the best Vertical Welders in central Illinois. He was a hard worker and fun loving man. In his career he learned to repair, and fabricate parts for all the cranes, shearers, trailers, all machinery at Mervis.

You could always find Paul in his second home (his garage) listening to his favorite country or blue grass music and piddling (as he called it). He loved Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Jerry Clower, Marty Stuart and many others.

He would light up when his cousin, Sam Rhoten would call. They talked for hours. He also had many long conversations with all his nieces. Donna, Lora, Lois, Darlene, Sheila and many others.

He was preceded in death by his father- Will Raymond Slemp, mother- Eula Mavis Slemp, brothers- Bud Slemp, Elmer (Pap) (Virginia) Wake Forest, North Carolina, sisters- Velma Russell, Rawhide, Virginia, Retha Garrett, Kyles Ford, Tennessee, Brenda Carpenter, Rogersville, Tennessee, and several nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, His three sons- Paul Jr., Argenta, IL, Lawrence (Sherry) Slemp, Littleton, Colorado, and Timothy (Dawn) Slemp, Argenta, IL, and sister Joyce (Bob) Mckinney, Edson, Tennessee.
Paul’s grandchildren, Celsey Kurley, Taylorville, IL, Kenzie Slemp, Moweaqua, IL, Brittany (Dan) Ritchie, Evergreen, Colorado, Hannah Slemp, Denver, Colorado, Will Slemp, Argenta, IL.
Paul’s great grandchildren: Bryson, Brody, Kylie Houston of Taylorville, IL, Camden and Leah Ritchie, Evergreen, Colorado
Paul’s surviving nieces: Donna Russell, Lora Garrett, Lois Garrett, Darlene Snyder, Debbie Link, Sheila Tate, Janice Brown, Candy Evans, Marsha Kopps, Becky Drake
Paul’s surviving nephews: Rick Russell, Rick Maxwell, Chris McKinney, Bobby Joe McKinney, Shannon McKinney, Alan Garrett, Marty Garrett

Paul always had a smile on his face, he never criticized anyone, loved life to the fullest, never treating any badly.

Paul was cremated and part of his ashes will be spread on the family mountain cemetery in Virginia sometime in June. A Celebration of Life will be held sometime in July in Argenta, IL.
Exact date and time will be posted through Facebook.

Central Cremation Center in Forsyth, Illinois has been entrusted with arrangements.