Cronenberger

Paul Carroll Cronenberger, 79, of San Antonio, passed away April, 2021. A Celebration of Life service was held at Cross Mountain Church, San Antonio, where he was an active member.

Paul was born in Houston on Jan. 12, 1942. Shortly thereafter his family moved to La Grange where his grandparents, Clara and Otto Legler lived. Paul received 12 years of education in the La Grange School. After attending A&M University and being a member of The Corps of Cadets and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, Paul became a Naval aviator and served in the Vietnam war. In 2008, he and the other survivors of the secret “Ghost Squadron” were recognized by the pentagon and presented the Presidential Unit Citation for their squadron’s highly classified missions and for aerial support of the Marines during the Battle of Khe Sanh.

As Paul was getting ready to leave the Navy after the war, he met the love of his life, Tina. Paul and Tina got married and Paul eventually became a part owner and operator of the western USA Airco distributorship. Paul achieved business success but did not find lasting fulfillment there. He sold his part of the business and their home and decided to do something different.

He and Tina purchased a boat called “Panacea,” formerly owned and raced by Jack Eckerd. They renamed the boat “God’s Speed” to signify their desire to live at a different pace, and travel wherever the Lord would lead them. What was originally planned to be a temporary, three or four year retreat from the rat race ended up being the journey of a lifetime.

During the next 16 years they raised their two children, Jamie and Jody on the boat and visited or lived in over 40 countries around the world. Paul, who was a “Jack of all trades” and could fix almost anything, found that his love for tinkering and ability to repair things was a great match for the boat life where in remote parts of the world it was often difficult or impossible to get spare parts or call a repair technician.

Over the years they spent time delivering Bibles and supplies to remote areas, supported a number of different Christian ministries around the world and had several encounters with pirates.

After his children went back to the states to further their education, Paul and Tina spent the next 16 years in Greece. During that time, Paul worked as the NSA Souda Bay Base Environmental Control Specialist. After his service there, he was transferred back to Texas where he worked as the Environmental Specialist for the Kingsville Naval Air Station. Paul’s creativity and genius in the environmental field earned him special recognition by the Pentagon for his work supporting environmental compliance for the US Navy.

Paul retired to San Antonio to enjoy life and his six grandchildren. He was known as a dear friend, fantastic husband, caring and encouraging dad, awesome and loving grandfather, wonderful little brother, and most of all, a dedicated follower of Christ. He loved Jesus with all his heart.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of forty-nine years, Tina Cronenberger; son, David Hanson; daughter, Jamie and husband Coast Guard Commander Chris Wright and daughter Skye and son on the way of San Diego, Calif.; son, Jody Cronenberger and wife Emily and daughters Zoe, Amity, True, Felice and Lenya of San Antonio; and sister, Helen Cronenberger, Ph.D. of San Antonio.

Family members will gather for prayer at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, and inter his ashes in the La Grange Cemetery.