Ira Bryan Paul, “IB,” was mercifully released from his body into heaven on May 6th of 2019.

IB was born on Feb. 12, 1943, to Katie Groce Paul and Bryan Paul, who had longed for a child for some time. IB grew up in a neighborhood filled with children and had lots of playmates … Bobby, Carolyn, Libby and Malvia. As he grew up, he became a fine athlete, who by the time he entered high school, played football, basketball and tennis. In 1961, he, along with his doubles partner, won the North Carolina tennis doubles championship.

He graduated from East Carolina College in 1965 and began graduate school there, as well. Time passed and IB realized that a master’s degree in psychology was not what he really wanted to pursue. He was employed by Washington City School to be the Physical Education coordinator. Later, he taught seventh graders for 1½ years. During this time, he began dating Josephine Bowen, whom he married on March 29, 1969.
IB worked for Beaufort County Savings and Loan and later became the vice-president. Bitten by the real estate bug, he retired from the Savings and Loan and began a rental property business which he continued to pursue until his death.
IB and Josephine loved to travel to the Bahamas, Venezuela, the western Caribbean Islands, California, Las Vegas, and New England. The highlight of their travels was a trip to Israel in 1991.
Both IB and Josephine came to accept Jesus as their personal LORD and Savior in 1980. They traveled far and wide to hear the Word of God preached by Jamie Buckingham, the Hunters, John Hobbs, Ken Helser, and many more.
In later years, IB suffered with a blood disease that required frequent blood transfusions. He was sent to Duke Medical Center to Dr. Murat Arcasoy, who put IB on a medication that alleviated the need for transfusions. In the summer of 2018, his medication stopped working and the transfusions resumed. Thanks to the vision and wisdom of Dr. Arcasoy and Dr. John Inzerillo, IB was given a new medication which eliminated further transfusions.
In March of this year, IB and Josephine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their church, The Church of the Good Shepherd. IB pursued life with vigor and most recently, he pursued his life with tenacity and perseverance. He will be sorely missed.
His life will be celebrated on Thursday, May 9, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 2425 Market Street Ext., Washington. Visitation will take place at the church from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. IB’s Celebration of Life service will begin at 5 p.m.
The family is very grateful to Dr. Murat Arcasoy, Dr. Cynthia Christiano, and Dr. John Inzerillo.
IB is survived by his wife, Josephine; sister-in-law, Mary Howard Blount, and brother-in-law, Dr. John Gray Blount; his nieces, Stacy Blount Divine, Mary Angel Blount and Emily Mayne. Also surviving are goddaughters, Ashley Gaylord and Shelby Thompson; cousins, Joe Paul, Ava Paul, Ken Reed, Russ Reed, Yvonne Smith, Mike and Nancy Willis, Bill Dunn, Susan Dawson, Etta Buckman, Buck and Vicki Buckman, Josephine Winters, Frances Pennick and Elsie Phillips. He leaves behind many good friends as well.
You may share a memory with the family by visiting www.josephpaulfdl.com.
Joseph B. Paul, Jr. Funeral Director Licensee of Washington is serving the Paul family.