Paul LeBaron Springer II

Published 6:30 am Wednesday, January 11, 2012

   Paul LeBaron Springer II died Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, at the age of 94. Following his graduation from Yale University in 1941, he taught English in Yuanling, China, under the Yale-in-China program. In 1942 he joined the U. S. Department of State (Foreign Service) and served the next six years in China, Malaysia, Egypt, and British Honduras. He was recruited by a Yale classmate to join the Central Intelligence Agency in 1949, and served with distinction in senior positions with the Agency in the Far East and Africa. He was awarded the CIA Medal of Merit upon his retirement in 1968.  

    Paul met and married the love of his life, Mary Jean O’Donnell, in Saigon in 1950 and raised seven children. His passions included his Christian faith and activities with his church, golf, bridge, bird watching, and especially singing. As a member of the Yale Glee Club, he sang with the Yale Alumni Chorus on its inaugural trip to China in 1998, and he and Mary Jean continued to travel with this group well into their 80s. Paul sang with the Austin Choral Union for twenty years and with the King’s Men and the Pines Presbyterian Church choir after he moved to Houston in 2007.                                                      

    Paul is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Jean O’Donnell Springer; seven children: Jodie (Jim Bevill) of Houston, Susan (Nick Simon) of Leesville, S.C., Cathie (Jim Conaway) of Kennett Square, Pa., Paul (Lana) of Atlanta, Ga., Sarah (Rusty Riese) of Katy, Texas, Peter (Maritza) of Houston, and Barbie (Andy Preston) of Liberty Hill, Texas; 12 grandchildren: Meegan Montgomery, Holly and Mitchell Simon, Jimmy, Brian and Russell Conaway, Emily and Monica Springer, Kyle (Anna) and Colin Doherty, Lauren and Daniel Springer; sister, Eleanore Springer of Collingswood, N.J.; brother, Victor (Ann) of Duarte, Calif.; sister-in-law, Betty Springer of Bradenton, Fla.; and, many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

    Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph A. and Audrey Springer; his sister, Ruth and her husband Bill Zeltman; and his brother, Joe.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the charity of one’s choice in honor of Paul L. Springer.

    A visitation with the family will be held Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at The Buckingham, 8580 Woodway, Houston, TX 77063. A memorial service to celebrate Paul’s life will be held Monday, at 2 p.m., at the Pines Presbyterian Church, 12751 Kimberley, Houston, TX  77024, with a reception immediately following.