Ernest Paul Schwilke passed away May 13, 2026 at his home in Oroville at the age of 81 due to Lewy Body Dementia. He was born Sept 12, 1944 in Omak to Earnest William Schwilke and Lela (Stebbins) Schwilke. He had 1 brother and 4 sisters. Paul graduated from Oroville High School in 1963 and worked locally in agriculture and at the Mobile Service Station. He married Linda Preston on May 9 1965 and later that year bought the Mobile Service Station. He later went into mechanics and had a shop at home. In 1984 he built his present shop and Parts Store, Paul's Service, which continues with Monica running the business as she has for years. He was a self-employed businessman for 61 years and would often talk your leg off about motors and how to fix them. He especially liked building racing motors for cars racing in the Inland Empire and was noted for some winning motors.

They had 2 daughters, Monica Marie and Sharon Kay. Monica was Paul's hunting partner and Sharon went fishing with him. Paul was an avid hunter and achieved his longtime dream of hunting in South Africa. He went twice and the last hunt during the last of Covid, he took Monica with him. The journey required Covid tests in every country coming and going which added to the adventure. He went yearly to the elk hunting camp that was at the same location where his father-in-law went since the late 1930's. That is nearly a 100-year tradition of elk hunting camp which was the highlight of his year and he would come back and tell hunting stories until it was time to go hunting again!

Paul was a lifetime member of the Oroville Gun Club and past president for many years, overseeing improvements to the club and traps. He was a member of NRA and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He loved attending United Fellowship Church and the last weeks of his life he kept wanting to go to church even when it wasn't Sunday. He especially loved preaching to women about the Biblical aspect of wives, which did not ever go well for him!!

Paul is survived by his wife of 61 years, Linda, daughters Monica (Tim) Knight & Sharon (Tod) Richardson, grandson Bryan Knight, granddaughters: Sarah (Brian) Budravage, Kylie Coffelt-Richardson, Madie Coffelt-Richardson & great grandson Jude Stephens, sisters LeElla (Gordon) Day, Anita (Jerry) Miller, Arlene (Gus) Van der Meulen and Debie (Mel) Marchese. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Floyd Eldon Schwilke and his father-in-law Guy Preston Jr. and brother-in-law Wayne Scott Preston.

A memorial will be held Friday, May 22 at 11:30 at the United Fellowship Church with Connie Hill officiating. Luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Oroville Gun Club would be appreciated for the youth shooting program and gun safety classes.