Paul Clinton Broadwater, Jr.

Well, the woods are a little quieter on July 9th, 2026. Paul Clinton Broadwater Jr. was known over the years as Sonny, Paul, Clint, and most answerable to Papa. He finally hung up his hiking boots at the age of 85.

Born back on October 29, 1940, in Shirley, IN, to his late parents, Paul Clinton Broadwater Sr. and Thelma Edna Craig Broadwater, Paul came into this world with both feet planted firmly on the ground. He was a realist through and through, with an absolute allergy to nonsense. His guiding philosophy was Murphy's Law because he knew if something could go wrong, it probably would. But his personal motto was a simple, honest "I tried." When Uncle Sam called his name during Vietnam, Paul proved he was always one step ahead. He was the very first to volunteer his typing skills, a savvy move that successfully got him reassigned to Germany. He spent his deployment serving as a personnel clerk, fighting the good fight with a typewriter and a clipboard. Whether in Europe, working the assembly line as a proud union autoworker, or handling life's daily chaos, he faced everything head on, did the work, and never offered excuses. As his sister Vicky said it best, "He was a character."

When he wasn't busy keeping everyone grounded, you could find him out in the great outdoors. He was a passionate hiker who loved nature more than he loved most folks. He found his true peace away from the hustle and bustle, especially tending to his apple orchard. He loved the quiet of the trees, the cycle of the seasons, and working the earth with his own two hands.

His greatest and undoubtedly loudest harvest was his family. Paul proved his true grit by packing up all six of his children and dragging them out onto the Appalachian Trail, creating a lifetime of memories out in the wilderness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Clinton Broadwater Sr. and Thelma Edna Craig Broadwater. He leaves behind his sister, Vicky Sue Broadwater (Jack) Friddle. He also leaves behind his six children, who inherited his honesty and will deeply miss his stubborn wisdom: Danielle Broadwater, Kelly Broadwater, Matthew Broadwater, Alison (John) Quirk, Dustin (Kristen) Broadwater, and Wesley Broadwater.

He was the incredibly proud Papa to his 18 grandchildren: Caitlin Mayo, Whitney Mayo, Christian Mayo, Chase Mayo, Maliachi Broadwater, Chandler Broadwater, Saige Broadwater, Peyton Broadwater, Reddek Christian, Jordis Christian, Kylee Broadwater (Noah) Hartman, Kinley Broadwater, Norah Quirk, Isabel Quirk, Maeve Quirk, Blair Broadwater, Beckett Broadwater, and Hadley Broadwater.

Though he loved the quiet of his orchard, his heart belonged entirely to his beloved wife, Pamela, whom he married in Shirley, IN on February 15, 1964. She predeceased him by eight long years, and he missed her every single day. Waiting for him on the other side, Pamela is undoubtedly waiting to welcome him home, though he is likely already giving her a full, unfiltered update on how things actually are down here.

Per his final wishes and keeping things practical like he always did, there won't be any fancy, stuffy funeral. Instead, we're going to swap stories and raise a glass to him at 11:00am on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Bozell Funeral Homes and Crematory, Condo Chapel, 130 South Main Street, Wilkinson, Indiana 46186. Visitation for family and friends will take place on Thursday, the night before from 4:00pm - 8:00pm. Dress down, expect a few things to go wrong just to prove him right, and keep it honest, just like he always did. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Eastern Hancock Athletic Boosters.

Rest easy, Paul. Give Pam a hug and kiss for us. You Didn't Try, you did a wonderful job.