Rev. Paul A. Sbepard, 86, of New Castle, a former Chaplain of Henry County Memorial Hospital and a New Castle minister died Saturday, December 15, 2001 at the Americare Living Center in New Castle.

He was born March 24, 1915.

He had resided in New Castle since 1976.

He was a native of Pike County and attended Oakland City College and graduated from Franklin College. He received a Master of Divinity from Colgate — Rochester College in New York.

He began preaching at the age of 14 years and served 41 years in the ministry and was a member of the South Indiana Conference.

He served pastorates in New York and Vermont in the Baptist faith. He also served pastorates in Plainfleld, New Castle, Rockville, Monon, Seymour, Evansville, New Carlisle, Evansville, Indianapolis, Washington and Connersville, In.

He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in New Castle.

Surviving are his wife Geraldine Dingman Shepard, whom he married June 9, 1940; two daughters, Ellen Shepard and Marla Shepard, both of Indianapolis and a son, John (Margaret) of Spring Valley, Minn., four grandchildren and a brother Dr. Carl Shepard of Carmel, Ill.

Funeral services were Wednesday, December 19 at the Macer-Hall Funeral Home in New Castle with Rev. John Ingerman and Rev. Robert VanCise officiating.

Burial was in Green Hills Memory Gardens in New Castle.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Christ United Methodist Church.