Obituary of Paul Keith Hescht

Paul Keith Hescht, 81, of Palm Bay, Florida, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, along with being reunited with his wife, Emma Bernice, on February 13, 2024, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Paul was born on May 3, 1942, in Eleanor, West Virginia to Gale and Blanche Hescht, graduating from Buffalo High School in 1960.

In June of 1961, Paul enlisted into the U.S. Army in Ft Benning, Georgia, which led him to meet the future love of his life, Bernice, whom he married in October 1963. After completing his 3 year service to the Army, which included being on a special protective detail for then President John F Kennedy's visit to the base, Paul moved north to Ohio, where he worked for Lightning Products and Crown Rubber, while getting his 2-year degree from the then known as Terra Technical College. In 1978, he decided to become an insurance agent, going to work for Nationwide Insurance. The family lived on hot dogs and bologna sandwiches in those early years of only earning straight commissions selling insurance, but his hard work and dedication paid off, as he won several top sales awards throughout his 26 year career with Nationwide, including winning several trips to Atlantic City, Seattle and Las Vegas. After retiring in 2004, he took his wife south to Florida to retire to their dream home that he helped design. Paul and his wife lived there until she passed away in 2022 and he in 2024.

Paul, preceded in death by his wife Bernice, is survived by his sons Douglas, Palm Bay, FL, Brian (Stevie), Republic, OH; grandchildren Alison Scheiber (Alex), Bloomville, OH; Amber Hescht, Tiffin, OH; great-grandchildren Braxton and Brantley Scheiber. Siblings, Phyllis Gibson, Johnson City, TN; Peryl Thompson, Palm Bay, FL; and preceded in death by sister Jean McClain, Cross Lanes, WV.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ohio at a later date.