BARLING — Life was no “brief candle” for Paul Lux.

Born December 21, 1917, to Alfred and Anna (Forst) Lux of Subiaco, Ark. Paul lived a life built on faith, family, service, good humor, and hard work.

With the loving support of an adoring family, at the age of 103, he died peacefully in his sleep on January 20, 2020, at Mercy Crest Assisted Living Center in Barling, Ark.

In 1939, Paul sought to leave the family farm and joined the United States Army. He hitched a ride to Little Rock to enlist and became stationed in San Francisco and Colorado Springs before shipping out to the Panama Canal Zone where he was assigned as a cook. He often remarked that when he was assigned as a cook, he didn’t even know how to boil water! Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, with the 575 Antiaircraft Division before shipping out to Liverpool, England, bound for Europe

On Christmas Day 1944, Paul and his unit rode into recently liberated Paris, France. As part of the Battle of the Bulge, they made their way through the French countryside, sleeping in abandoned barns and German foxholes blanketed by snow. At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, Paul made his way home to Arkansas. That year on July 4, Paul met the love of his life, Anna Julia (Seiter) Lux of Morrison’s Bluff. The couple married on September 24, 1945, and in the blissful years that followed, became parents to, Mary Beth, Bill, Paul John, Janie, Sarah, and Karen. He was longtime employee of Railway Express.

Paul was an avid vegetable gardener and raised his family from the abundance his garden provided. Each summer and spring, he and Ann would can fruits and vegetables for the winter months. They faithfully attended their grandchildren’s baptisms, First Communions, weddings, school plays and graduations, and they maintained strong ties to the religious brothers and sisters at Subiaco Abbey and St. Scholastica Convent. Paul was a longtime parishioner of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council #996 of Fort Smith. Paul attributed his longevity to hard work. Often, when asked what he had been doing each day, Paul would respond, “just work, work, work!” There was no task too small or insignificant that couldn’t be made better with hard work, care, and compassion. Work was the key to his longevity.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Anna (Forst) Lux, son-in-law, Rob Sharum, infant grandson, Christopher Gallant, daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Lenny Balascke. He was also preceded in death by seven sisters and one brother. He is survived by his children, Mary Beth and Lenny Sever of Oklahoma City, Bill and Deanna Lux of Fayetteville, Paul and Debbie Lux of Holiday Island, Janie Sharum of Fort Smith, Sarah and Steve Gallant of Grand Rapids, Mich.; one sister, Berta Proctor of Jacksonville, Fla.; sixteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in a private, family Rosary service at 9:30 a.m., and Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., on Monday, January 25, 2021, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, with graveside service and interment at Holy Cross Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Viewing will be Sunday, January 24, 2020, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the funeral home. Services will be live-streamed on St. Boniface’s Facebook page. Memorials may be sent to St. Boniface Catholic Church, 1820 North B Street, Fort Smith, Ark., 72901, St. Scholastica Monastery, 1315 S. Albert Pike, Fort Smith, a.m., 72903, or Subiaco Academy, 405 N. Subiaco Avenue, Subiaco, Ark., 72865. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com