Inspiration and drive keep Fall City man young

Published 10:23 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

Fall City resident Paul Paperd has a knack for making sales and for making impressions. The 87-year-old Michigan native, who now works as a sales associate at Wilson’s Leather Outlet at the Factory Stores at North Bend, would rather spend his time working than sitting at home.

“You go crazy,” Paperd said. “I’ve got to be active.”

Paperd has held various part-time jobs since he retired in 1982, choosing to work partly out of a desire to occupy his time and partly – probably more so – to satisfy his great love for people.

“I’ve never seen anyone who can deal with or talk with customers like [Paperd],” said Mike Pugmire, Paperd’s manager at Wilson’s Leather. “[Paperd’s] always friendly and amazing to be around.”

At his home in Fall City, Paperd has gifts and stacks of thank-you cards that he’s received from customers.

“I treat everyone with respect. It goes a long way,” Paperd said.

Paperd also has a way with words. When he first applied for the job at Wilson’s Leather in 2002, he said flatteringly to the female manager at the time, “I’m going to have to work for someone as gorgeous as you?”

“You’re hired,” she said.

Since that time, Paperd has been keeping up with, if not ahead of, the other employees at Wilson’s Leather in terms of sales. Aaron Lynch, a manager trainee at the store, applied for the job because of Paperd.

“[Paperd’s] a really cool guy to work with,” said Lynch, “He taught me everything I know about sales.”

And although some of his co-workers are merely a quarter his age, Paperd’s youthfulness and enthusiasm make him seem much younger than he is.

“I don’t feel my age,” Paperd said. “I feel like I’m about 45 or 50.”

Besides a recent bout of skin cancer, from which he has recovered, Paperd is healthy and fit. On the days he’s not working, he takes walks, does laundry, takes care of things around the house and goes shopping.

Paperd is also an active member of the Catholic church. He regularly attends St. Margaret of Scotland in Seattle, where he is an usher who greets and helps people as they arrive. After church services have ended, he returns to the Valley to work Sunday afternoons at Wilson’s Leather.

Paperd’s fondness for busy routines traces back to his youth. Born in Detroit, Mich., in 1919, he was one of five children born in his family. His first job was working for the Ford Motor Co.

“I couldn’t stand the confinement of the factory,” Paperd said.

He changed jobs and began driving a truck, making deliveries for a bakery. Once he’d had a taste of the freedom that the road afforded him, “That was it – I had to drive from then on,” Paperd said.

In 1942, during World War II, Paperd was inducted into the armed services and was stationed in Battle Creek, Mich., where he worked for the military police for nearly two years. Paperd never saw action, but felt that his time in the military “was a good experience; good training.”

Before the war, Paperd married his only wife, Elizabeth. The couple raised four children together – two boys and two girls – and remained married for more than 50 years before they divorced in 1997.

It was Paperd’s son Rex who first invited his father to Washington to visit his Fall City home in 1995.

“Rex said, ‘Stay here,’ and I stayed,” said Paperd.

Paperd currently lives on the bottom floor of Rex Paperd’s home, living just below Rex, Rex’s wife Tawny and their two children, Patrick and Mandy.

Paperd said he draws a great deal of motivation from Tawny and Rex.

“Every guy should have a daughter-in-law like Tawny, [and] Rex is a great son,” said Paperd. “They’re all so good to me.”

For as much inspiration as Paperd gleans from his family, he equally inspires those around him.

“He’s an amazing person,” said Eldean Story, assistant manager at Wilson’s Leather.

When asked what his future work plans are, Paperd said, “I’ll keep working until I can’t work anymore.”