Rodney Paul Stewart, 85, Topeka, formerly of Hickory, North Carolina, passed away Monday, August 17, 2015.

He was born January 16, 1930, in Gastonia, North Carolina, the son of Gaither and Pearl (Dellinger) Stewart.

Paul graduated from Lee Edwards High School, Asheville, NC, in 1948. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Paul earned a bachelor's of science from Baylor University in 1967. In 1970, he earned his Master's in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Paul was a Baptist minister serving churches in Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia. After retiring from the ministry, Paul became a small business owner moving to Hickory, North Carolina in 1985. He remained there until 2011, when he moved to Topeka, Kansas.

Paul is survived by his children, Stan (Amy) Stewart, Flower Mound, TX; Kim (R.D.) Coker, Topeka, KS; and Scott (Annie) Stewart, Apison, TN; six grandchildren, Aaron Stewart & Erica (Chase)Wade, Texas; Kaitlin & Mia Coker, Kansas; and Hannah & Cody Stewart, Tennessee; brothers, Gaither (Milena) Stewart, Jr., Italy and Robert (Irina) Stewart, France.

Paul was an avid sports fan, supporting the Baylor Bears, the Dallas Cowboys, and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5 at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 740 S. Edmonds Lane, Lewisville, Texas 75057.

Interment of cremated remains will be held at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, Lewisville & Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka, are assisting the family.

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