Paul R. 'Tiger' Wilms, 80, Founding Member of the Operation Open Heart

He was born February 12, 1927 in Cleveland. He was raise din Lorain and graduated from Lorain High School. He had made his home in Vermilion for the last forty-eight years.

Paul served in the US Army during World War II where he received the American Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Metal. He was employed in sales and security at the former May Company in Lorain for thirty-four years before retiring. He was a member of the American Legion Post 30 in Lorain, the original founding member of the Operation Open Heart, past member of the State Highway Auxiliary and a retired special deputy sheriff with Lorain County. He took his peace officer training at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland along with police management and police supervision.

Survivors include his wife, E. Alice Wilms (nee: Retay); numerous nieces and nephews; great nieces and great nephews; great great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Florence Voigt, Eleanor Weaver and Ruth Schroeder; his brothers Fritz Wilms, Hank Wilms, Ernie Wilms and Carl Wilms and by his parents Herman and Berta Wilms (nee: Glogen).

Friends may call Monday, March 26, 2007 from 6-9 p.m. at the Hempel Funeral Home; 373 Cleveland Avenue, Amherst. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11 a.m. from the funeral home. The Rev. Dr. Linwood Chamberlain, pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lorain, will officiate. Burial will be in Brownhelm Cemetery, Brownhelm Township.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church c/0 Leaf; 603 Washington Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44053 or the Operation Open Heart, 4015 Clinton Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44055.