Paul E. Furnish, age 82, a resident of Aurora, formerly a longtime resident of Naperville, passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois.  He was born November 28, 1934 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Paul grew up in Arkansas, Missouri and Indiana, graduating from Kokomo High School, Kokomo, Indiana. After graduation Paul attended Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, on a football scholarship. He received several athletic honors at Butler including being elected twice a Little All American, twice All Conference, and voted Most Valuable Player. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. Paul was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. His college years were interrupted by the Korean War when he served in the US Army in Ft. Hood, Texas. He returned to Butler after his service to his country and graduated in 1959. He married Joanne E. Metcalf, of Indianapolis, on December 27, 1958.

Paul worked for Merck, Sharp and Dohme (now known as Astro Merck) for 37 years.  He retired in 1992 from the Oak Brook office as a District Manager. During his tenure at Merck, Paul twice received the Master's Club Award and was featured on the cover of the 1986, 2nd Quarter Edition of MSD Frontline.

In retirement, Paul was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Naperville, volunteered at Edward Hospital and Meals on Wheels. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he enjoyed biking with the "Holy Spokes".  Paul was also an avid fisherman and hunter. Additionally, Paul and Joanne enjoyed extensive travel experiences during their marriage.

Paul is survived by his wife, Joanne, his daughters, Carol (Larry) Krause of Mahomet, Illinois and Lynn (Polly Russell) Furnish of Prescott, AZ, and one brother, Roger (Billie) Furnish of Indianapolis.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 N. West Street, Wheaton, IL. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. A reception will follow. Interment will be in the Columbarium of Trinity Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Paul's memory to Butler University Football, c/o Office of University Advancement, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208, or online at www.butler.edu/gifts , or Caring Bridge, www.caringbridge.org , or The National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org , or The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org .

An obituary for Joanne and a video may be found at http://www.hultgrenfh.com/obituary/joanne-furnish .