Paul Walter Hartfield (1936 - 2021)

Born 11 Aug 1936 in Malone, Hill, Texas, United States

Biography

OBITUARY: Funeral services for Rev. Paul Hartfield, 84 of Serbin, Texas, are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin with Rev. John Schmidt officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The funeral services will be livestreamed from the church's website at stpaulserbin.org. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The Hartfield family will be present for visitation Wednesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Paul Walter Hartfield was born on August 11, 1936 in Malone, Texas. He was the son of Rev. Herbert Otto Hartfield Sr and Frieda Bertha (Maas) Hartfield. He was baptized August 1936 by Rev. H.O. Hartfield. He was confirmed on April 12, 1950 at Christ Lutheran, Loebau, Texas by Rev. H.O. Hartfield. His confirmation verse was Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Paul graduated from Dime Box High School. In 1963 he graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary of Springfield, IL. He served his vicarage in Ontario, Canada at St. John’s, Pembroke, 1961 - 1962. He served three congregations in Alberta, Canada from 1963 – 1965: St. John, Vegreville, Immanuel, Bruce and St. Paul, Manville. From 1965 – 1977 he served two congregations in Texas: Bethlehem, William Penn and Immanuel, Lyons. In 1977 he accepted the Call to St. Paul, Serbin, where he served until his retirement in 1998. St. Paul honored him as Pastor Emeritus. He served Christ, Loebau. from 2004 – 2015. Paul loved the ministry of his risen Lord and Savior and each congregation he served.

Pastor Hartfield has served the Texas District as Vice President and Circuit Counselor, on the Anniversary Committee of Synod, District LLL Pastoral Advisor and as Zone Pastoral Advisor for the LYF, LWML and LLL. He wrote devotions for Taegliche Andachten and an article for Concordia Historical Quarterly. He visited the German Lutherans in Russia with Lutheran Hour Ministries, received the Rural Minister of the Year Award from Texas A&M University and was honored by Concordia Theological Seminary with the “Servus Ecclesiae Christi” award. At the fall of Communism in 1992, he visited the German Lutherans in Russia. For the 150th Immigration Anniversary, he preached at the mother churches of St. Paul in Klitten and Weigersdorf, Saxony. He was a charter member of the South Lee County Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a supporter of 4-H and its community activities.

He was united in marriage to Cydell Lehmann on July 15, 1961 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Warda, Texas by Pastor H.O. Hartfield. Their marriage was blessed with six children: Timothy, Thomas, Douglas, Lana, Lisa and Julianne. Paul enjoyed farming at home where he always had a Jersey cow to milk each morning. Paul also enjoyed hunting with his Poor Boy Hunters from Brenham and fishing in the Brazos with his Serbin Crew. His face would light up at the sight of his grandsons, granddaughters and three great granddaughters. In retirement, Paul and Cydell would go to a sports event (on TV) every evening.

Paul passed away at his home in Serbin the afternoon of June 19, 2021. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Herbert, Sr. and Frieda Hartfield; infant son, Thomas Ray and infant daughter, Lisa Kay; three brothers, Rev. Clemens (Sonny) Hartfield, Herbert Otto Hartfield Jr., and Frederick Roy Hartfield; one sister, Esther Gaston, and brothers-in-law, Billy Stringfellow, Jimmie Lehmann, and Allan Lehmann.

Paul is survived by his wife of 59 years, Cydell; his children, Tim and Tammy Hartfield of Giddings, Doug and Debra Hartfield of Serbin, Lana and Allen Kaiser of Serbin and Julie Kasper of Serbin; nine grandchildren, Thomas and Brittany Hartfield of Burton, Robin and Justin Elliott of Bryan, Heather Hartfield of Bryan, Haley and Dan Marak of Serbin, Courtney Kaiser of Serbin, Allison Kaiser of Serbin and fiancé, Brent Haas, Brett Kasper of Victoria and fiancée, Jessica McKinney, Ty Kasper of Serbin and fiancée, Ashley Frerich and Brooks Kasper of Serbin; three great granddaughters, Mabry Layne and Reese Hartfield of Burton and Rylee Elliott of Bryan; three siblings, Ethel Stringfellow of Burkburnett, Rev. Robert (Bobby) and Lillie Hartfield of Pennsylvania and Carol and Wallace Lehmann of Warda; brother-in-law, Harry and Patricia Lehmann of Warda; sisters-in-law, Jo Anne Hartfield of Indiana, Sharon Hartfield of Amarillo, Sue Hartfield of Webberville, Carolyn and Bobby Buscha of Warda, and Sandra Lehmann of Warda and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Serbin, Texas or the charity of your choice.

To God be the glory.

Sources

• Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, Giddings, Texas, USA [1] accessed 27 June 2021