Paul Hatchett, age 75, of Bowling Green, KY, passed away peacefully on Sept. 2, 2023, at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, TN.

A native of Henderson, Ky., Paul was born to the late Rosa Wallace and Arch Hatchett and was the youngest of 10 siblings. He loved spending time with his family and friends. After graduating from Henderson City High School. Paul enlisted in the Navy to serve his country. While in the U.S. Navy, he served on the Navy vessel USS Waddell during the Vietnam War.

After spending 22 years in the U.S. Navy, he retired from active duty as a Petty Officer First Class. After his naval retirement, he joined the US Naval Reserves, where he served as a Recruiting Officer in Indiana. Paul later worked for the Office of the Inspector General, Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Ky. and Hopkinsville Community College until his civil retirement in 2012.

In the early 1970's, he met Wila Mae Clark and they fell in love and married on July 22,1978. During their 45 years of marriage, he and Wila started a family and had 3 children. As a family, they loved to travel, spend time with family and friends. Paul loved fishing and would often head down to Florida.

Paul was very passionate about researching family genealogy and has found family descendants who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars in the Hatchett/Wallace side of the family. He recently received Life Association Membership Status of the Buffalo Soldiers 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, Official Army Unit Association. Serving the Lord, being a kind and dependable husband, father and grandfather was a top priority for Paul. He also loved his church, Taylor Chapel AME in Bowling Green, Ky.

Paul is survived by wife, Wila, daughter Jessica, and granddaughter, Sira. He was preceded in death by his children, Christina and Stacy. He was preceded in death by seven siblings, Rosa, Joyce, Mary, John, Arch, Melvin and Clara. He is survived by his sister Carolyn and brother James Wallace, both from Detroit, Mich. along with a host of nieces and nephews.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO ST. JUDE