Paul Dwight Hope, 83, of Ottumwa, died June 7, 2023 at his residence.
He was born November 25, 1939 in Downing, MO to Lowell Francis and Nora LaVaughn Burns Hope. Paul married Shirley Jean Bennett on August 6, 1960.
A 1957 graduate of Downing High School, he graduated from US Trade School in Kansas City and from Indian Hills Community College; later earned his teaching certificate.
Paul had served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1960-66. He was an auto mechanic at Myers Buick and Pontiac, Fagen and Norris Chrysler and Crescent Motors. He taught Automotive Repair at Indian Hills Community College for 26 years from 1967 -93. After retiring from teaching, he worked for Vaughn Automotive, retiring in 2000.
Paul was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and then Northgate Alliance. He traveled and volunteered for 18 years with the United Methodist NOMADS and volunteered for the Red Cross.
Surviving is his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Paula Hope (John Saul) of Steamboat Springs, CO and Patricia Hope (fiancé Dean Sturtevant) of Des Moines; 2 grandchildren, Alex (Xiying) Vaske of Phoenix, AZ and Derrick Neal of Altoona; 2 great-grandchildren, Leah and Logan; his brother, David Hope of Rock Island, IL.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Benjamin Vaske and a brother, Wayne Hope.
His body has been cremated. A service to celebrate his life will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 13th at Northgate Alliance Church with Rev. Jim Eschenbrenner officiating. A time of lunch and fellowship will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Methodist NOMADS, PO Box 9066, Hot Springs, AR 71910 or at methodistnomads.org, or to Northgate Alliance Church, 2705 N Court Rd., Ottumwa, IA 52501.
Reece Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
