Paul A Whitacre

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Paul A. Whitacre, who left this world on January 30, 2026, at the age of 83, in Monroe, Ohio. Paul was a devoted husband of Cheryl (Newman, first wife) and Diane (Helsinger, second wife), father (Kevin and Brian) and dedicated friend to all those who knew him.

Paul was born in Piqua, Ohio on May 22,1942 to Lloyd and Dorothy (Usserman) Whitacre. He was so premature the doctor instructed them to wrap Paul in a blanket and keep the furnace running, even on July 4th, to keep him warm. That’s the love and care he received coming into this world. His parents moved to a farm outside of Pleasant Hill, Ohio when Paul was in the second grade. There, he experienced the grounding environment farming has by being involved in 4-H, farming and raising Herefords with his father and playing with his dog Tootsie. Paul was proud of winning Champion at the Miami County Fair with his Hereford Cow and Steer. Growing up on the farm taught him values that he lived out the rest of his life such as hard work, education, being resourceful to fix anything and most importantly looking out for your fellow neighbor.

Paul graduated from Newton High School in 1960 with a small class of forty-three students. His main interest in high school was in physics so he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati and earned a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. He was awarded a National Science Foundation fellowship and enrolled in graduate school at The Ohio State University and earned his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering in 1966.

Paul had an internship his senior year at the University of Cincinnati at Hobart Manufacturing Company and it was there he met Cheryl who was working as a secretary. They married on October 1, 1966 and later moved to Endwell, NY where Paul worked for GE in Binghamton. In 1973, they moved to Mason, Ohio where they had two children Kevin and Brian. Paul worked at NCR, Cincinnati Milacron and Bascon before he retired. Paul truly enjoyed bicycling, home computers, home improvement projects and looking out after neighbors and seeing where he could help with their needs.

Paul was so blessed, he got to experience love again after Cheryl’s passing. Diane came into his life and they were married in 1996. Their love for each other was so strong and evident by the sacrifices they made for each other. They enjoyed vacationing and spending winters in New Mexico. They lived in Las Cruces for four years before moving back to Ohio.

We ask everyone to celebrate Paul’s life, the memories, and the positive impacts he had on your life. As we grieve the loss of Paul, we also celebrate the incredible legacy he leaves behind. His warmth, kindness, and commitment to family will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew him. He is now reunited with Cheryl and his parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Whitacre, in eternal peace.

May Paul’s memory serve as a reminder to treasure the time we have with our loved ones, and may his spirit inspire us to embrace life with the same passion and purpose he exemplified.

Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home

LUNCHEON WILL BE AVAILABLE

400 Reading Rd., Mason, OH 45040

513-398-2911