Paul Townsend Carver, 88, died on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Hartford Hospital. Paul was born on May 10, 1928, the only child to Kenneth and Miriam Wehl Carver. He was raised in Kingston and Riverhead, NY before attending the Mt. Herman School. After earning his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at Cornell University, Paul served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, first as a B-29 pilot, and later as base engineer in Pusan, South Korea. He returned to Cornell after the war to earn his M.S. in Hydraulics in 1956.

Paul was instantly smitten when he met his beloved, Phyllis Jane Albrecht. They married in 1958 at Cornell’s Anabel Taylor Hall in the midst of an epic blizzard. He joined CE Maguire, later The Maguire Group, and worked there until his retirement 46 years later. Paul and Phyllis settled in Barrington, RI where they raised their four children. They later moved to Miami for a brief time before settling permanently in West Hartford, CT.

Paul was an ardent model train collector and historian, particularly of the New York-New Haven railroad. He enjoyed photography, bridge, skiing, reading science fiction, and was quite fond of bow ties. He would research and develop incredibly detailed itineraries for his travels, savoring the planning as much as the trip itself. He sailed around the fjords of Norway, climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, explored Tibet and China, and rode the South African Blue Train, the Orient Express, and the Trans-Siberian Railway among many others.

Paul was predeceased by his beloved wife, Phyllis Albrecht Carver. He is survived by his children, Pamela Jean LaPointe of Anchorage, AK; Kendra Carver Wasberg of Greencastle, PA; Randall Paul Carver of Granby, CO; and Melissa Townsend Carver Sottile of Hartland, CT. He was blessed with eight grandchildren, Lucas and Courtney LaPointe, Alexander and Samuel Wasberg, Ian and Aidan Carver, and Ethan and John Sottile. He was a devoted, caring friend to all who knew him and an unforgettable character. Paul loved life, learning, and meeting people, but most of all, he loved his family and friends in his unique, quirky, yet genuine way. He left an indelible mark on all who met him, and is deeply missed.

Calling hours are Friday, May 5, 5-8pm at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, CT. Paul’s funeral is at First Church of Christ Farmington, 75 Main St., Farmington, CT, on 10:30 am Saturday, May 6. A private burial will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Paul’s favorite charity, Water for People, are appreciated.