Paul Trainor

Martinez, GA –Paul Douglas Trainor of Martinez, Georgia, originally from Lan-caster, New Hampshire, passed away at home in July 2024 at the age of 87. 

Paul was born in 1936 to Peter and Bernice Trainor of Lancaster. He enjoyed a childhood full of fishing and hunting in the beautiful White Mountains, which no doubt influenced his lifelong love of outdoor sportsmanship. After graduating high school in Lancaster, Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology/virology at the University of New Hampshire. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Maryland. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army and put his skills to work in service of his country, including during the Vietnam War, where he conducted research in virology that directly benefited soldiers affected by disease and the use of chemical weapons. Later he was based in Germany and visited family in the States regularly; the cuckoo clocks he brought back as gifts were much beloved, and at least two still cuckoo to this day. His career was spent continuing his research in microbiology and bacteriology, including with the Centers for Disease Control.

Paul was an avid outdoorsman who greatly enjoyed fishing and hunting and amassed an eclectic collection of tools of the trade. He shared his knowledge by teaching gun safety at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, and made attempts to teach young relatives to fish, some of which went better than others. He was also a dedicated and talented gardener whose annual backyard garden yielded bumper crops that he shared with friends and neighbors.

Paul was fiercely independent and self-reliant, but regularly trekked to visit family across the U.S. His nephew and nieces have many fond memories of their Uncle Paul joining them on vacations and sharing the wisdom of the Trainor family (his most famous quote: “Trainors know everything”), and he was a generous uncle to them over the years. He was a reliable attendee of high school reunions in Lancaster well into his later years.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Dr. James Trainor. He is survived by his sister, Catherine Huffman of Peoria, Arizona; his sister-in-law Mary Trainor of Hinsdale, Ill.; his nephew, Douglas Trainor of Phoenixville, Penn.; and nieces Dr. Jennifer Trainor (Rob Seo) of Hinsdale, Ill., Stephanie Kot (Kevin) of Menands, N.Y.; Susan Marris of Chalfont St. Giles, U.K.; and Carolyn Kimball (Alex) of Avon, Conn. He is additionally survived by several great-nephews and great-nieces: Eli and Gabriella Seo, Lucine Trainor, Alex and Ryan Kot, Andrew and Phoebe Marris, and Luke, Rafe and Piper Kimball; and a great-great-niece, Aubrey Kot.

The family also wishes to thank Paul’s friend and neighbor Steve Lutz for his generosity and help during this sad time. We will all miss Paul’s stories and his singular presence in our lives.