Paul L. Wingo Jr., 78, passed away on Monday, June 6, 2022. He was born on April 21, 1944 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to the late Paul L. and Mable Wingo, Sr. He was the only brother of the late Alma Ruth (Herndon) Wingo and Charlotte Ann Thomas.

Paul was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area, growing up in both the Avondale and Highland Park communities while attending four historical Chattanooga public schools; Avondale Elementary, Richard Hardy Junior High, Eastside Junior High, and Kirkman Technical High School.

Paul enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1961 at the age of 17 and served for over 4 years. He served in the Fleet Marine Force in both the 1 ^st and 3 ^rd Marine Divisions with his final 18 months at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia where he was honorably discharged in 1966 after 52 months of honorable service.

Paul met the love of his life, Linda Wooddell in Washington, DC while on active duty serving in Quantico, Virginia. Paul and Linda enjoyed traveling extensively. They traveled west many times as well as going on several cruises and taking Amtrak train trips to New York City.

Mr. Wingo was later employed with Southern/Norfolk Southern Railroad less than two weeks after his discharge from the Marine Corps. Paul's railroad career spanned over 40 years, first as a Switchman then as a Locomotive Engineer. While he was an Engineer, he served in multiple elected local union officer positions with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen/IBT Rail Conference (BLET/IBT). He served over 20 years as BLET Local Chairman at Chattanooga Terminal. In 2001 he was elected National Vice President (BLET/IBT) with assignments as Organization Member of Public Law Boards at Norfolk Southern Railroad and several regional railroads in both the midwest and the northeast, representing engineers and trainmen in contact negotiations and formal investigations. He was well known for his expertise in railroad discipline investigations and as advocate for his fellow employees in time of need, displaying a special love and compassion for them. His railroad labor organizations included Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, United Transportation Union, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and he served as a director on the Board of International Brotherhood's Relief and Compensation Fund and was one of six founding members of the North American Railroad Foundation. He was always encouraging young people to seek a career with Norfolk Southern Railroad and followed up with a personal reference for those he thought could tolerate the difficult railroad lifestyle and continued to do so long after retirement.  Upon retirement in 2006, he accepted the position of Director, Railroad Disability Claims and Benefits with the Atlanta Law Firm of Steel & Moss, LLP. He assisted countless railroaders with disabilities issues, employee benefits issues, and as representative in Railroad Retirement Board Appeals and Hearings, never one accepting a fee for his services from those he helped. Many are in railroad careers today as a result of his influence and encouragement."Call Paul" was the well circulated solution throughout the southeast railroad community for railroaders seeking advice on many issues.

Paul loved duck hunting with his sons and grandchildren. He was proud that both of his son's had separately chosen to follow in two paths in life with Todd being a Marine, then retiring as an Air Force Officer/Pilot and Lebron a Locomotive Engineer with Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Most important of all, Paul was a born again Christian. He was baptized at the age of 12 years old at Highland Park Baptist Church's Camp Joy. He was a member of Maple Grove Baptist Church and the Crusader's Sunday School Class where he loved participating in the Memorial Hospital ICU waiting room lunch ministry, serving lunch to families of ICU patients until Covid-19 pandemic ended the program in 2020. His favorite music was gospel choir music, and his favorite was the Maple Grove Baptist Church Choir. On one western trip he and Linda visited Salt Lake City, Utah for the purpose of Paul seeing and hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir but Maple Grove Baptist Church Choir remained his favorite. His favorite bible verse that guided him was Proverbs 3:5-6. He believed in the importance of prayer for the physicians and health care workers caring for himself and others.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Linda (Wooddell) Wingo; two sons, Lt. Colonel USMC/USAF (Ret.) Carl "Todd" Wingo, of El Reno, Oklahoma and Lebron Wingo, of Ooltewah, Tennessee.; two daughters-in-law, Kelly (McGibony) Wingo and Stacey (Harmon) Wingo; two granddaughters, Hannah and Sage Wingo; grandson, Garrett; nieces Paula English and Karen Thomas; nephew Joe B. Thomas and special sister-in-law, Sharon Miller of Phillipi, West Virginia.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Maple Grove Baptist Church in Harrison from 4 – 6 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 6 p.m. with Pastors Ronnie Dotson and Andy Bell officiating. Paul will be laid to rest in Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with Military Honors. Honorary pallbearers will be all retired and active employees of Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads from all crafts. Active pallbearers will be Todd, Lebron, Garrett, Rick Skidmore, John Steel and John Moss.

Please share your memories and express condolences at www.turnerfamilyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are by Turner Funeral Home, Hwy 58 Chapel 423-622-3171