Paula Jean Casper

Paula Jean was born to Robert and Myrtle (Erickson) Outland in Wilmette, Illinois in 1939. She was the first daughter of four girls, including Marianne, Barbara, and Sally. From her earliest years, Paula assumed the helpful role of secondary mother to each of her siblings. Every sister recalls and is inspired by her steady kindness and protective concern. Paula’s parents raised her as a Christian at San Marino Congregational Church under the pastoring skills of Reverend Bertrand Crist. Through his foundational teachings, she was an active participant in Pilgrim Fellowship, a church organization that broadened her compassion for those less fortunate. Both for church programs and at home, Paula gave her heart and soul to others. She also delighted audiences with her accordion playing. Favorite songs, such as “Vaya Con Dios,” “True Love,” and “Faith of Our Fathers” were welcome additions to any gathering. As a student, Paula was outstanding and service-oriented. In high school, she participated in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kiwanis, and Rotary. A highlight was being chosen by her Red Cross chapter to represent the organization during a summer program in Germany. Her combined high school efforts earned her an academic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley in 1958. Paula then journeyed to UCLA, where she joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and pursued a Nursing major. Ironically, Paula met her future husband, Richard Casper on a football-weekend visit back to Berkeley. Frequent game weekends provided more occasions for Paula and Dick to fall in love. They married in 1959, and settled in Dick’s hometown of Salinas. There, they raised three loving children: Robert Mark (Bob), William Scott (Bill), and Jenny Elizabeth. For these pillars of the community, life was filled with sporting events and church activities. At a personal level, Paula mastered her life as a definitive homemaker and entertainer. She also held many jobs outside of the home including church administrator, administrative assistant to politician Leon Panetta, entrepreneur of gift baskets and decor, and Fresh Express marketer. As the children continued to pursue their own productive lives, the Casper seniors embarked on a 1998 adventure to move from their home state of California to Branson, Missouri. Three years later, despite living an exciting life of endless shows and friends, they felt inclined to move near their daughter in Plano, Texas. There, they joined Life Point Plano Church, where Paula graciously continued to serve God by mentoring women through her gentle care, wise counsel, sense of humor, and erudite understanding of the Bible. Paula continued to enjoy her friends and family members, able to entertain with a distinct flair for refined beauty. Her dining room table settings and culinary skills were a depiction of her inner beauty and her desire to share her servant’s heart. Meanwhile, her amazing love for Jesus, her husband, and kids included her faithful dog Roscoe, who never left her side. Dick and Paula’s sterling devoted care for each other is legendary among their family, friends, and the entire community. All of those who survive her remember Paula Jean Casper as the sweetest person they ever knew. Her husband, children, daughter-in-law Laurie, son-in-law Mark, and her grandsons and granddaughters, David, Michael, Jennifer, Jessica and Emily, are grateful to this precious woman for being their vital paradigm of virtue. Each family member demonstrates their love and compassion in beautifully unique ways. They comprise her family legacy, revealing the lasting benefits that Paula Casper’s goodness has reaped. Paula is survived by her husband Richard (Dick) Casper, son Robert (Bob) Casper and wife Laurie, son William (Bill) Casper, and daughter Jenny Howe and husband Mark, grandchildren David Casper, Michael Casper, Jennifer Casper, Jessica Howe and Emily Howe, and sisters Marianne Merrill and husband bob, Barbara Baker and husband John, and Sally Reed. Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Myrtle Outland. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at 3:30 pm at LifePoint Church, 4501 Hedgcoxe Rd, Plano, TX 75024.