Paul Ray Pulliam

PAUL RAY PULLIAM
“A life well lived”

Rev. Paul Ray Pulliam passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2019 after a time of
worship and reunion surrounded by his family. We are filled with sorrow to see
such an amazing man leave us, yet we are rejoicing that now he is hearing
heavenly music in the presence of his Father in heaven. He will be missed for his
passionate love of people, his wonderful sense of humor and his infectious joy in
living life to its fullest.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at
the First Presbyterian Church located at 320 Date Street, San Diego, California
92101. The Service will be followed by a reception held in the Assembly and
West Rooms at the church. Come join us in celebrating a life so wonderfully
lived!

History

Paul Ray Pulliam was born in Cardwell, Missouri on April 18, 1926 to Bessie and
Robert Pulliam. His father was a Baptist pastor. Paul’s early childhood was spent
in Douglas and Yuma, Arizona. In Yuma he saw his first gyrocopter and fell in
love with flying machines. In 1938 the Pulliams moved to California, where Paul
attended high schools in Porterville and Redding. Paul graduated from Shasta
Union High School, Redding, California in 1944. Paul expressed his passion for
music by learning to play the piano and trumpet. He was active in his high school
band and orchestra.
Paul attended Cal-Berkeley through the Naval ROTC Officer Training program.
Following active duty, he served in the US Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant (jg) in
the Chaplain Corp until he was Honorably Discharged in 1952. During his
Berkeley years, he was active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and it was
through Intervarsity that he met his future wife, Ruth Eleanore Sutherland. Ruth’s
parents were missionaries in India and both Paul and Ruth felt a strong call to the
mission field in Pakistan to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s first gift to
Ruth was a Greek Lexicon (very romantic)!
Paul received his Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in
Philadelphia and his Master of Theology from Pittsburgh-Xenia Seminary. Paul
and Ruth were married on July 2, 1949 and moved to Irwin, Pennsylvania, where
Paul served as Pastor to two small country churches, Bethel and Adera. Their
eldest daughter, Kerry, was born in 1951 followed by the birth of a son, Eric in
1952.

In 1953 the Pulliam Family set sail for Pakistan to serve as missionaries in
Sialkot under the United Presbyterian Church Board of Foreign Missions. They
both began language school. A second daughter, Anne, was born in 1954. In
1957 the Pulliams returned to the USA on furlough, where Robin, their third
daughter was born in Reseda, California. During this furlough, they moved to
Indiana, Pennsylvania, where Paul served as Assistant Pastor to Greystone
Presbyterian Church. The furlough ended in 1959 and they returned to Pakistan.
During his time in Pakistan, Paul trained church pastors for leadership, served as
Student Advisor, Chaplain and taught English, History and Philosophy at Gordon
College in Rawalpindi. He also founded Murree Christian School for missionary
and other international students. He served as its first principal and the school is
still operational today. He also started an Adult Literacy Program to teach
Pakistani Christian Laity how to read and study the Bible. Paul was deeply loved
by the many that he ministered to.
In 1963-1965 Paul served as Pastor to the International Church at Mangla Dam
during the construction of one of the largest earth-filled dams in the world. It was
here that Ruth gave birth to Ian, the youngest member of the family.
In 1965 the Pulliams returned to the USA on furlough. Their return trip included a
stop in Laos to visit Paul’s sister, Naomi, and her husband, John Sauvajot, who
was working with USAID. Following furlough, they returned to Pakistan and were
assigned to Sheikhupura, where Paul provided continuing education to village
pastors and elders.
In the summer of 1969, after much soul-searching, Paul felt led by God to return
to the USA. The Pulliams left Pakistan unsure of what God’s plan for them was
and through Divine timing, they settled in San Diego, where Paul accepted a call
as an Assistant Pastor to First Presbyterian Church. In 1977 he became Senior
Pastor and served in that capacity until he retired in 1991.
Paul fell in love with San Diego! He served the Presbytery of San Diego as
Moderator and on various committees. He was a member of the Downtown
Kiwanis Club and served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Chapter of
the Red Cross, the Advisory Board of Vista Hill Foundation, and the Boy Scouts
of America, the Senior Community Center, the Metropolitan YMCA and Friends
of Casa de la Esperanza, an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. He was also actively
involved in the San Diego Rescue Mission and Ladle Fellowship to feed the
homeless. In addition to his many involvements, Paul become an avid sailor,
enjoyed the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Zoo, the Old Globe Theater,
Starlight Theater, Lamb’s Players and all that Balboa Park had to offer. Paul
loved to travel, organizing and leading many international excursions for
members at First Presbyterian Church.

In retirement, Paul continued to be actively involved in Presbytery and served as
interim pastor to the First Presbyterian Church in Brawley and Mt. Soledad
Presbyterian Church in La Jolla. He continued to conduct weddings and funerals,
lead Bible studies, conduct chapel services at Brandel Assisted Living and
involved himself in the life of Mount Miguel Covenant Community, where he and
Ruth moved in 2008. Paul and Ruth continued to enjoy traveling and hosting
their many friends from all over the world. For his 85 th birthday celebration, Paul
got his wish and went skydiving!
During the past few years, Paul lovingly served as Ruth’s caregiver with grace
and tenderness and at the time of his death, they had been happily married for
over 70 years!
Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, his sister, Naomi Sauvajot, his five
children: Kerry Benson, Eric Pulliam, Anne Bennett, Robin Castello, Ian Pulliam
and 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.