Paul Francis Boatman, 88, formerly of Potsdam, NY, passed away July 8, 2017 at Iroquois Nursing Home in Jamesville. He was born in Marinette, WI on Memorial Day in 1929, the son of Edward and Ellen (Murphy) Boatman.
He worked on the Milwaukee Road railroad as a young man. He then proudly served our country for four years in the Air Force, as a Master Sergeant at a Radar Surveillance station base in Alaska during the Korean War. He married Sally Leonard of Watertown in 1955. He worked for NY Telephone in Potsdam for 35 years, and was an officer of the CWA Local.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Sally, now of Liverpool NY; sons Paul L. (Ginger) of Liverpool, David (Nina) of Auburn CA, and daughter Cheryl (Paul) Ossip of Denver CO; four grandsons, two granddaughters; and a great granddaughter. He was predeceased by all his siblings; brothers Edward and James, and by sisters Genevieve (Jean Charette) and Beverly Boatman.
Paul was also a member of St. Mary’s Church, the American Legion, and the Elks Lodge in Potsdam. He loved his family dearly, and also loved to stop and speak with friends and neighbors on his retirement era walks around his beloved town of Potsdam, as well as with countless visitors on their front porch on Prospect Street. The family will be having a private service.