Paula Drexler

Paula Erma Drexler was born on May 18, 1925, in Beemer, Nebraska, as Pauline Erma Griffin. She lived during a time of great change and tremendous growth in the world and society, all of which shaped her throughout her life, leaving those of us remaining with many memories of her stories and recollections. She was the 10th of 10 children, and had the status of being the youngest in the family. She was very close to her next eldest sister and as children they promised to maintain a relationship through all the challenges that might come their way. Paula grew up during the time of the great depression, which had an enormous impact on her, and was just 16 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked, plunging the US into World War II (the history of which she remembered in great detail). Those of us who survive her remember the numerous stories she shared about those times and the impact they had on her and her view of life. A few of those recollections we share below, as they reveal so much about our memories of her and how she touched those who knew her.

Paula was first married during the war, to Warren Earl ("Skeets") Hoover who was a decorated Marine fighter pilot. We remember the romantic story she told of their first meeting, set against the backdrop of that emotional period in history. She had met him on a train in California where she had moved for a time, and Skeets who happened to be sitting next to her on the train was in uniform and fell asleep, eventually leaning over onto her shoulder. When he awoke, he apologized for being so tired, and they started to talk endlessly. They were married before he left on deployment. She moved to live with his parents in Valparaiso Indiana during the war years. Skeets became a teacher and coach after the war, and also did some work as a stunt pilot. Paula moved to live with her mother in Denver for a time after the war.

When in Denver she began to work a Dental Hygienist. As told to us, she wrote out her job application by hand in red ink, showing enormous drive which was never forgotten by the dentist, who eventually hired and trained her. She would work for him on and off for the rest of her working life. On her side, she never forgot the kindness shown in hiring her. While working for the dentist, she met a lawyer also working in the same building and began to spend time with him. He had been a teacher and coach before the war, and had been an intelligence officer in the Army Air Corp during the war - he was shot down over Romania, spending time in a POW camp. He had been studying law and became a lawyer subsequently. He had been important in her life for some time.

While working as a dental hygienist, Paula had been going to business school to take courses to become a secretary. She eventually worked in that capacity for a number of legal firms in Denver. During her work as a secretary, she met Stanley Drexler whom she then married. Stanley had been an officer and lawyer in the Coast Guard during the war. He continued to work as a lawyer after the war, also taught in law school at times and was an avid tennis player. The household consisted of Paula, Stanley, Michael Louis Drexler (Louis being not only Stanley's Middle name but also the first name of the dentist who hired Paula), and William (Bill) Ridgeway Drexler. Paula and Stanley were married for over 50 years. The family lived in various parts of Denver and Boulder. Stanley passed away in 2001.

Paula loved flowers, the little animals she could see from her window (such as rabbits), and dogs, a love of which she shared with Stanley in their later years--the couple often walked their dogs along the canal walkways and in the parks in Denver. Paula also loved cats and had several, some for many years. She often went out to restaurants with Stanley, and she loved fried shrimp, crab, Japanese food, and steak. She identified herself a devout Christian throughout her life. In addition to working as a dental hygienist and secretary for legal firms and other groups, she owned a clothing store for several years, and did volunteer work at various hospitals including the VA Hospital in Denver. She was fond of recounting the story of the "orphan lift" following the end of the Vietnam War--she was working at a health care facility in Denver when those orphans first landed in the US, and she was directly involved in their introduction to their new country and in feeding some of the youngest.

Paula is survived and remembered by several people in particular. Michael, who attended the University of Colorado and then Alliant International University, and is now a psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is stationed in San Francisco, California. He lives there with his wife Kathryn (who he met in college and who is a genetic counselor), and their daughter, Jordan, who majored in physics and is now a graduate student in interior architecture.

Bill, who attended Ft. Lewis College in Durango Colorado and then the University of Denver for his Master's Degree. He works for Marsh in the area of Corporate Insurance. Bill lives in Denver with his wife Patty, who he met in college (and who shares his love for animals), and their two dogs and 2 cats (showing a love of animals Bill likely got from Paula). He was able to see Paula nearly every week for the last several years of her life, making sure that she was comfortable and well-cared for where she was living.

As the youngest of 10, Paula was the last of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by Michael, Bill, Kathy, Patty, and granddaughter Jordan, and also by Wendy (Drexler) Baron (a daughter from Stanley's previous marriage). In gradually declining health for some years, Paula was 92 when she passed away peacefully under hospice care where she had been living. We will remember Paula fondly. May she have eternal rest and peace.