Paul Botz

Paul Bernard Botz went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 5, 2020.  He fought the good fight and finished the course and of course, he kept the faith as it says in 2 Timothy 4:7.  Paul won the fight against multiple myeloma and he is now playing baseball and golf in heaven with his wonderful friends and maybe an angel or two.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Joyce; his three sons, Scott and wife Valerie, Jeff and wife, Leslie and Shawn.  Also survived by Joyce’s daughter, Melissa McDonald and son, Greg Golden.  Paul is also survived by 11 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren, including the love of his life, little Emma Botz.

Paul was born on November 19, 1941 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  His dad Conrad, worked in the steel mills.  Conrad Botz came to America from Berlin, Germany at age eight by himself.  He married Paul’s mother, Catherine Fox.  Paul was the youngest child of three children who were both almost grown when Paul was born.  Paul was just 13 when his father passed away.  Paul attended Catholic school all his life.  His mother baked bread and Paul cleaned the church to pay for his tuition.

Paul was very athletic and played baseball all his life.  As a teenager Paul was also an alter boy and his mom wanted him to be a priest.  Paul joined the military at age 19.  He joined so that he could play baseball for the Air Force baseball team.  After he joined, his mother forwarded a letter to Paul in basic training from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization to report to their Florida training center for spring training.  Instead of Florida, Paul was sent to Vietnam by the US Air Force to build baseball fields.  He designed and supplied the baseball fields outside of Saigon, Vietnam.  Tech Sergeant Paul Botz served in the US Air Force a total of 22 years.

Paul left the military and made Albuquerque his home.  He worked at Ed Black’s Chevrolet for a few years.  After that time Paul got a job with the US Government in civil service with administrative services, managing golf courses and other duties for 18 years.  Paul met the love of his life, Joyce Manning in 1989 at Hoffmantown Baptist Church.  They married at Hoffmantown in August of 1994.  Paul and Joyce served at Hoffmantown in several ministries for many years.  They moved to North Carolina where Paul retired from Civil Service.

After living in North Carolina for six years, Paul and Joyce moved back to Albuquerque in 2006 so Joyce could continue to work at Presbyterian Hospital.  Paul then went to work in Albuquerque at FRENCH Funerals and Cremations and served the community for 10 years.  This position became his favorite job and his passion.  Paul resigned when he was diagnosed with cancer.  He remained close to his friends at FRENCH until the time of his death last week.  Paul became a born again Christian in 1976 while attending Hoffmantown Church.  He served the Lord in many capacities with an unwavering faith in his Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul loved to read his bible daily gaining strength and encouragement especially during his illness.  Paul’s greatest desire would be those who do not know Jesus Christ personally to reach out to another Christian believer today.

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, October 15, 2020, 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH - Lomas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to International Myeloma Foundation 12650 Riverside Drive , Suite 206 North Hollywood, Ca 91607-3466 or online at giving.meloma.org or 800-452-CURE. This foundation helped me so much in understand Multiple Myeloma with Dr. Durie’s live online presentations updating me on all the drugs being developed to help in the cure for Multiple Myeloma and understanding the disease process. I want to help them in the research in finding a cure for this deadly disease.