Paul Allen Wilshaw

Paul Allen Wilshaw passed away under the care of Vitas Hospice at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida on December 18, 2024, at the age of 83. 

 Paul was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 25, 1941, to Florence Edith Higham Wilshaw and Walter John Wilshaw. The family moved to Rosedale, New York and then to Merrick, New York. In 1954, when Paul was 13, the family moved to Sylacauga, Alabama when his father was transferred to the new business office of Avondale Mills, a cotton fabric company. 

 He was an avid model railroader from an early age, purchasing train kits and building the trains himself. He was especially fond of boxcars. He and his dad built a large rail setup in an upstairs room of their home in Sylacauga where he spent many hours building and running the trains. 

 Paul attended Sylacauga High School and Auburn University where he studied engineering before being hired in 1965 by Woolworth Department Store, the company that built Woolco Department stores. His job as Assistant Manager was to oversee the building of the stores in Florida, hire staff and open them. He worked up and down the Florida coast until he reached Pensacola. He left the company and began working with the City of Pensacola coordinating the care and repair of historic buildings in the city. He worked there until his retirement. When he finally purchased a new computer, he was able to order anything he wanted, and stay abreast of the goings on in Pensacola, which he had a vested interest in. 

 Paul kept his hand in trains and was an avid reader of the Model Railroader magazine where he was one of the editors. One entire room of his house was dedicated to HO model trains. 

 He never married but is survived by his sister, Judith Wilshaw Smith Barrack, two nephews, David Smith and Michael Smith, two nieces, Christina Smith Carter and Jennifer Smith, and numerous cousins… and his cat, Chub 2.0. 

 Paul was a quiet man, who would help a friend in need, was liked by his neighbors, was concerned about his city, never missed a birthday of his sister or nephews or nieces and could tell you anything you wanted to know about trains. When he was still driving, you could often find him at the railyard taking pictures of particularly interesting boxcars.