Paul Woolverton

November 15, 1930 - July 31, 2026

Paul Woolverton, Sr., 95, of Hamilton, entered into God’s Loving Care on Friday, July 31, 2026 at the Serenity Hospice Inpatient Unit at RWJUH Hamilton surrounded by family.

Born on November 15, 1930, in Trenton, he was the youngest child of nine born to Norman Nelson and Euphemia (Keegan) Woolverton. He was a lifelong resident of the Trenton area.  Paul was married for 64 years to the love of his life, the late Rita L. (DeBonis) Woolverton, who died in April 2023. Together, they not only raised an incredible family, but built a home on a solid foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus, love for one another, and a hope that continually saw beyond limitations of life and circumstance.

Paul graduated from Trenton High School, and then later, earned a BA in criminal justice from Rider College, taking night classes while working full time. He served proudly as a Seaman 2^nd Class in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War era, serving primarily as a Radioman on a couple of vessels including the USS Guadeloupe. Returning from active duty, and for decades later, he served as a patrolman with the Trenton Police Department where he spent years not only protecting neighborhoods but also building relational bridges within the community. He later served within the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and then as a detective within the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office—retiring as Captain of Detectives. For all his years serving the public he built a reputation of integrity, honor, and compassionate accountability.

Paul had numerous interests and skills that kept him occupied when not focused on his family. He was an amazingly gifted handyman who was able to fix just about anything that he put his mind to. For years, he had a side business of installing aerial antennas on peoples’ houses. He was an avid amateur radio operator (silent key W2AEI) and a member of the Delaware Valley Radio Association, and he notoriously “recruited” family and friends to become “HAMs.” Over the years, he also researched, collated, and disseminated genealogical records and accounts of the Woolverton family tree extending all the way back to 1682. Always ready with a story, he loved to inject humor into any situation.

Paul is survived by his sons, Rev. Paul Woolverton, Jr. (Rebecca), Dr. Christopher J. Woolverton (Nancy), Mr. Timothy P. Woolverton (Susan), and Rev. Dr. David E. Woolverton (Kristine); eight cherished grandchildren, Melissa (Kevin) Connor, Christopher (Laura) Woolverton, Douglas (Shari Puorto) Woolverton, Lyssa (Ken) Rickard, Samantha Antoine, Abbey (Mitch) Fariss, Kahra (Matthew) Varall, Adam Woolverton; fourteen great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Morgan, Marcus, Bennett, Everett, Joel, Hope, Zoe, Freddy, Elise, Ezekiel, Sophia, and Kailani; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. He absolutely loved his family and they loved him. He leaves a legacy of integrity, loyalty, honor, generosity, and compassion––which he embodied with all who encountered him.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026 at Grace–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3715 East State Street Ext., Hamilton, NJ 08619.

A public viewing and visitation will be at the church prior to the service, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Entombment will follow the service in Greenwood Cemetery Veterans Mausoleum, 1800 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul’s memory to the Memorial Fund at Grace–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3715 East State Street Ext., Hamilton, NJ 08619.

Services are under the direction of the Buklad-Merlino Memorial Homes, Hamilton, NJ.

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