Paula Jean (Boyd) Orwig

Paula Jean (Boyd) Orwig was born on June 8, 1948, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Harry Eugene Boyd and Pauline Lucy (Barkley) Boyd. She and her mother shared the same birthday. It is also the day of our move to Talala. She grew up in Tulsa and attended elementary, Jr. High, and high school.  She graduated from McClain High School in 1967. She came to know Christ as an older child, maybe 12 years old. She and her mother and brother were members of Belview Baptist Church in Tulsa. It was there that she met Lester, whom she later married.

She was active in the youth group at Belview when she and Lester decided to get married. It was at this time, that the Viet Nam War was going on, that Lester joined the Air Force. During the first leave after basic training and tech school, they were married on January 31, 1969. They first were stationed at the Dyess AFB, in Abilene, Texas where their first child, Dawn, was born. Then the orders came down from the Pentagon for Lester to be stationed in Oslo, Norway. What an adventure! Life really blossomed in the overseas assignment. Their second child, Mark, was born in Oslo in 1971.

The amazing thing about living in Norway was the culture there and the scenery! Before moving back home to Oklahoma, the family took a “European Vacation.” Mostly, unlike the movie with the same theme. Being on a financially challenged side of life, it was a camping through Europe vacation. So, sporting a yellow Volkswagen Super Beetle, the trip began with an exciting event. The car being so small, we packed it like it was a suitcase as there was no room for luggage. Without getting too boring, there was the European camping escapade which happened in Paris, France at a camping site.  It was just a short distance from the Palace of Versailles. Campsites there had UNSUSAL outdoor toilets! It consisted of a small room with a hole in the ground and a tank of water with a long pull chain. After doing your business, you pull the chain and then there is a LOUD sound of rushing, mighty water! It would come down the concrete wall and swirl around the base of the room and there you have it.

In a few moments on the video, there is a picture of Paula coming OUT of the little room with a BIG smile on her face. It was the funniest memory of our trip. Equally funny was the nighttime, when you are trying to go to sleep, the sound of others going into the little ‘room’ and pulling the chain would occur. The laughter in our tent around midnight was intriguing. This and other cultural experiences will certainly expand a person’s horizons. It was also in Oslo where the Orwig’s received the call to serve the Lord in the Pastorate.

From there and returning to Tulsa, the decision to enter seminary came. Our third child, Kari, was born in Tulsa during this time. Later, while going through seminary, our fourth child, Paul, was born in West Memphis, Ar. Paula was always up to the tasks of life.

Paula did not marry a minister. The call came after two or more years of marriage. This is not an easy path to go down, but Paula was faithful in it all. The Bible tells us that all Christians are given a spiritual gift at conversion. The list of those gifts is found in Romans 12:8. These gifts are according to the grace of God. Paula’s spiritual gift was the gift of ‘mercy.’ While this spiritual gift is given with the supply of the grace of God, it is a gift that is given to serve the needs of others. This spiritual gift, while demonstrating the mercy of God, often includes real suffering itself. This was the inner heart of Paula. She mostly had the needs of women who were widows. That is why she made an expression toward the widows of our church and others as well. She served faithfully as our church nursery coordinator for many years so that parents could be in church and so that some could serve in our church.

She was faithful up to the end of her life. The last twelve hours of her life were both traumatic and peaceful. Going from Sunday evening to Monday morning she was non-responsive, but later Monday morning, she was both somewhat responsive and at peace and with no pain at all. The Lord was very gracious and God gave great peace to her and family. She had already responded to the question, “Do you want to go home, your heavenly Home?” she nodded ‘Yes.’ A few moments later she was “home!”

She is survived by her husband, Lester, of the home, her four children, her daughter Dawn Orwig, Talala, her son Mark Orwig, Talala, her daughter, Kari Roderick (Orwig) and husband, William, of  Talala, and her son Paul Orwig,  Talala. Three grandchildren, Noah Roderick, Evan Roderick, and Jade Carter, all of Talala. Also, sister-in-law, Betty Boyd, Broken Arrow, niece, Cristy Gilliland, and husband Craig and their two children, nephew Andy Boyd and wife Deidre, and their two children. Numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, many friends, and fellow servants of the Lord.

Visitation will be Noon to 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 8, 2023 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Friday, June 9, 2023 at the First Baptist Church of Talala, OK with Rev. Lester Orwig officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.