Paul F. O’Daniel
Paul F. O’Daniel, ‘Cowboy’ age 92 of Quincy, put on his cowboy hat for the final time on Sunday, February 9, 2025, in the Illinois Veterans Home. He was born on August 18,1932 in Quincy, IL, and was the son of Paul T. and Florence I. (Setters) O’Daniel. He married Shirley M. Parrish on December 6, 1952 in Quincy, IL.
Paul a farmhand, entered into active service January 12, 1953, in the United States Army 264th Field Artillery Battalion. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. He was very proud of serving two years in the U.S. Navy and two years in the U.S. Army. Paul was certain to always have the American flag displayed and would daily before retreat go to look at the American flag in front of the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center during the time he lived there.
Paul and Shirley’s son Paul Charles was born November 21,1953 at Ft. Sill U.S. Army Hospital in Oklahoma.
Paul spent most of his life as a farmhand, training (breaking) horses and especially bull riding. He enjoyed his riding, and all cowboy related things. His love of cowboying led him to have misshapen hands that he would tell you about the rigging, broken bones and how many bulls were to blame. He would often be seen wearing a cowboy hat. Paul was known for his jokes and storytelling of his glory days as a bull rider. He particularly had a fondness for hershey miniatures, little debbie cakes and candy corn.
Paul was known to say he met and got a signature from Reba McEntire at a rodeo before she was famous.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Paul Charles, and his former wife Shirley Stiffler.
Paul’s only wish was to have his son Paul Charles’s ashes placed with him when he himself is interred at Greenmount Cemetery, Quincy.
SERVICES ARE PENDING
Bless you Paul, you are a very strong willed gentleman. Take it easy on those angels up there, Paul It was a honor to have known you.
Awwe… I loved Paulie! Boy, did he have the stories. I would sit with him for a bit at Ports, back in the day, or at the Senior Center when I worked there… to hear many of them stories. He didn’t pull no punches, and told ya what he thought, that’s what I loved about him. God bless him. I pray he repented for his sins, and turned his life over to God (as we are called to do), so we can meet again one day in Heaven.