Paul W. Batsel

Paul Wayne Batsel 1/15/2009 Paul Wayne Batsel, 97, of Central City died at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at Muhlenberg Community Hospital. He was born Dec. 16, 1911, in Muhlenberg/McLean County, the son of Milton and Florence Gatton Batsel. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with the Medical Corps in the South Pacific, and a member of VFW. A member of First Baptist Church for many years, he taught Sunday school, worked with the Royal Ambassadors and sang in the adult church choir. He was a retired educator, teaching agriculture and science in the Central City, Webster and Muhlenberg County school systems. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Morland Batsel and Harold Batsel; and four sisters, Annabelle Johnson, Jeraldine Bruce, Alma Plain and Mary Lynn Thurman. Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Mary Ellen Fortney Batsel of Central City; a sister, Susie D. Dossett of San Antonio; three children, Patricia (Bobbie L.) Key of Central City, Anthony Wayne (Vronah) Batsel of Lynchburg, Va., and Janice Elaine (Charles E.) Powell of Hopkinsville; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services are at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, with the Rev. Bob Lowery, pastor of First Baptist Church and Dr. Johnny Godwin of Gallatin, Tenn., officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to First Baptist Church of Central City or Casky Baptist Church (Hopkinsville) Building Fund. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and after 8 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Online expressions of condolence can be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.