Virgil "Paul" Redding, 85, of Wichita Falls, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, surrounded by his family and friends.

A son of the late Louise (Covington) and Dale Redding, Paul was born on September 11, 1938, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was raised on a working family ranch in Minatare, Nebraska, helping raise pure-bred Angus show-cattle alongside his father. Paul graduated high school in Gering, Nebraska, where he played football and participated in 4H. He then served honorably in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1956, to 1958, earning the rank of sergeant.

Paul attended the University of Denver, where he met Nancy Ann Bradford, whom he married on June 11, 1961. They returned to the family ranch in Minatare, Nebraska, where he resumed his cattleman career before relocating to Denver in 1966. He was an active member of The Masonic Lodge in Minatare for many years. Nancy and Paul moved to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1968, where they raised their sons, Brad and Todd. Over the next 10 years, Paul, alongside his father, developed a farm and feedlot west of the city before transitioning careers and opening Redding Machine Shop in Wichita Falls in 1978, which remains in operation today. He was a consummate provider and beloved employer, who always treated employees like family.

Paul had many hobbies and interests through the years, including piloting planes and helicopters, snow skiing, as well as observing and protecting the varied wildlife surrounding his home. He was a voracious reader and seeker of knowledge. An entrepreneur and forward thinker, he utilized his precision machine shop to help develop ground-breaking oilfield and aircraft technologies.

Paul was preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy Ann (Bradford) Redding; his parents, Louise and Dale Redding; and his sister, Patricia Denton. He is survived by sons, Brad Redding (and Bonnie Koontz) of La Grange, KY and Todd Redding (and Tim Smith) of Tulsa, OK; and grandchildren, Cierra (Redding) Rohrbaugh of Gunnison, CO, Allie Redding of Tyler, TX, and Andrew Redding of Chicago, IL.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home chapel with family members officiating. The family will receive friends at a visitation immediately following at Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be sent to the Humane Society, American Red Cross, or the charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers.