Paul Seymour

Paul Anton Seymour, age 73, of Savanna, Illinois, died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton. A funeral mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. Cremation Rites will be accorded following the funeral. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, December 8, 2014 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. A memorial fund has been established in Paul's memory.
Paul was born ln Peoria, Illinois, on April 13, 1941, the son of William and Susie (Votraine) Seymour. He graduated from Richwoods High School with the Class of 1959. He enrolled at Western Illinois University, leaving after three years to join the newly created United States Peace Corps. Paul was sent to the Virgin, Islands for training and then spent almost two years building schools in rural Gabon, Africa. After another attempt at higher education, he was invited to join the newly formed Volunteers in Service to America or VISTA (also called “the domestic Peace Corps”).
This led to a year of community service on the Quinault Reservation in the state of Washington. Before he had the chance to try higher education again, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He landed in Vietnam shortly before his twenty-sixth birthday where he spent his tour of duty as a combat engineer. After being discharged, he finally graduated from Illinois State University in 1969 with a Bachelor's in Social Science. He later received his Masters Degree in Education from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Paul married Patricia Ryan on April 1, 1968 in Traverse City, Michigan.
Paul was an educator and administrator for most of his life, serving in many different school districts. He started his teaching career as a social studies teacher for the Pleasant Valley School District near Peoria and later became its principal. In 1984 Paul continued his career as a superintendent in Bellflower, Illinois. He became Superintendent of Mulberry Grove School District in 1985 before becoming the Superintendent of the Savanna School District from 1990, until retiring in 2001. After retiring, Paul was interim Superintendent for both Utica and Warren Schools. He also worked as a business manager for Galena, Stillman Valley, and East Moline School Districts. Paul was a past member of the Savanna Chamber of Commerce, Savanna Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus. Paul was active with the Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Paul was an avid golfer and enjoyed watching NASCAR. Most of all, Paul loved spending time with his family and friends.
Paul will be dearly missed by his wife, Pat of Savanna; three sons, Micah Seymour of Savanna, William Seymour of St. Louis, Missouri and Brett Seymour of Bloomington, Illinois; three daughters, Alexis (Major Jacob Robinson, USMC) Robinson of Snead's Ferry, North Carolina, Jordan (Toby Greenwalt) Seymour of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Gabrielle (Brad Robinson) Seymour of Savanna; nine grandchildren; one sister, Marilyn Wyeneth of Peoria, Arizona; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; one brother in-law, Edward Wyeneth; and one nephew, Sean L. Ryan who lived with the Seymours for many years.