Richard Clement Paulsen

Richard Clement Paulsen, age 94, was born in Raymond, Wash., to Peter and Hilda Paulsen. They moved to Astoria in 1921, where his father owned and operated the Owl Drug Store with Mr. Frank Berg. He graduated from AHS in 1938 and went on to attend Oregon State College (now OSU). There he was affiliated with Beta Theta Pi fraternity, was in ROTC, and graduated from the school of pharmacy in 1942 with a BS degree. He married his high school sweetheart, Myrtle L. Andersen, on July 19, 1942. They were married 70 years until her passing in 2012. They had four children together. He was a second lieutenant in the infantry during World War II. Returning home, he started working for his father at the Owl Drug Store in 1946. He owned and operated the Owl Drug Store from 1953 to 1973, when he sold it; later working for Gil Kamara Real Estate. In 1964 he took his family to visit relatives in Norway, and they spent time traversing Europe. In 1965 he was awarded the George Award from the Astoria Chamber of Commerce for his role in organizing buses for the Save Our Salmon excursion to Salem. He served on many local boards and committees, among them: as a city councilman, on the Selective Service Board, in the Rotary Club, a member of Astoria Golf & Country Club (where he served on the board of directors three times), a member of First Lutheran Church (where he was a councilman and established an endowment fund), a member of Clatsop County Historical Society, a member of Columbia River Maritime Museum, and a member of Oregon State Pharmaceutical Association. He was past president of the YMCA and a member of the Sons of Norway Lodge. He was chairman of the first very successful Heart Fund drive, he donated to the Liberty Theatre’s restoration and he donated to the Astoria Column restoration. He is survived by three children: Dianne J. Baxter, Judy C.P. Clark, and Richard C.P. Paulsen; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The memorial service will be Feb. 21 at 12 noon, held at the First Lutheran Church on 33rd and Grand in Astoria. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, or the Columbia River Maritime Museum, on behalf of Richard Paulsen.