William Allen Paulea II

William Allen (“Bill”) Paulea, II of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents William Allen and Retha Paulea, and his brother, Henry Paulea. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Suzanne Bernadette Suberbielle Paulea, his sister, Polly Ann Koontz and her husband Greg, his children Lisa Paulea Wendell and her husband Shawn, Katherine Paulea Arnold and her husband Sean, William A. Paulea, III, and Alexander J. Paulea, as well as his grandchildren Ashleigh, Blake, Cassidy, Blaine, Brielle, Riley, Caroline, AJ and Wyatt. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bill would attend Oklahoma State University, where he was a proud Sigma Nu. He put himself through school by teaching ballroom dancing. In many ways, he continued to dance through life, as success after success followed him. His first big win was finding lifelong love. After moving to Houston to finish his college career at the University of Houston, he was introduced to Susie by his fraternity brother and future brother-in-law, and they married soon after. Houston would remain their home where they would nurture their career(s), raise their children, and forge incredible friendships that endure to this day. Bill retired in 2007 after a 40 year career in real estate and commercial development. His colleagues remember him not just for his success, but for the manner in which he conducted business. He was a brilliant businessman, loyal partner, savvy negotiator, and a fair-minded man who believed that the best outcome of any deal was one where everyone benefited. He began his career in the early 1970’s when he joined the residential real estate world with Gary Greene Realtors, quickly rising to Vice President. An entrepreneur at heart, Bill soon ventured out on his own to form Mills Paulea Realtors. After over a decade in residential real estate, he waded into the commercial real estate boom of the early 80’s and formed Suncor Development, Inc. Along with his trusted partners, he created a diversified commercial real estate operation and formed an unwavering partnership in business, friendship, and family that he was truly grateful to be a part of. Some of our fondest memories of Bill are set in the great outdoors. He loved long weekends at Exotic Isle, tubing, fishing and crabbing on the river with his wife and kids. His love of boating would endure right up to the last days of his life with a succession of boats named Bernadette after the love of his life. In later years, he and Susie spent much of their time in Telluride, Colorado, hosting epic Christmas parties for family and friends at their home there. From fly fishing with his kids to golfing with his grandkids to rafting down the ice-cold, snow-melt rivers with his friends, he was a lifelong outdoorsman. Among his many blessings, Bill had a longing to see the world and he was fortunate to be able to make that dream a reality. From Patagonia to Paris, he traveled to some of the most beautiful places on earth in the company of his friends and family. His favorite fly-fishing holes were scattered along the San Miguel and Dolores rivers near Telluride. His favorite steak was at La Fregate on the bank of the Seine in Paris. Once, en route to a wedding in the Philippines, he took his wife to Tokyo, where he bought her her favorite pearls as a token of his love and appreciation. The man had a true passion for living that flowed into all that he did. One of the hallmarks of his life and personality was his generosity. Everything he had in this life he shared: with his family, with his friends, and with strangers. He gladly opened his home to friends and family who needed a safe place to rest their head….whether for a night or for a year. Every year, he would send out a calendar for the house in Telluride and invite extended family and friends to let him know what weeks they wanted to visit. It didn’t matter if he would be there or not. Everything he had he enjoyed so much more because he could share it with the people he loved. Through their church, he and Susie sponsored Houston families in need every Christmas with gifts and food. He spent many years donating to and supporting the Telluride Adaptive Ski Program, which provides instructors, guides and equipment to children and adults with disabilities who otherwise would never have been able to ski. He also founded The Paulea Foundation in order to sponsor many other causes related to the safety and empowerment of women and children by providing assistance to organizations who support those families in times of distress. Bill and Susie were members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Bill, a lifelong Episcopalian, converted to the Catholic Church as a 50th anniversary gift to his beloved bride. He could have purchased an extravagant gift to mark that incredible milestone, but instead he spent months studying and being counseled by her priest, and ultimately gave her something no amount of money could ever buy…her absolute certainty that they would spend eternity together with the Lord in His paradise. He was a funny, loving man who touched the lives of so many. He will be remembered by his family and everyone that loved him as the life of the party: none of us will ever forget the twinkle in his eye right before he was about to deliver a biting joke with his quick wit. Or the always entertaining spectacle of watching him work a room anytime someone put a microphone in his hand. And neither will any of us forget watching him dance with his wife, year after year and anniversary after anniversary. Their love inspired our entire family. We are all so grateful to have had him in our lives, and we invite anyone who felt similarly to join us in celebration of his life and legacy. Funeral Mass Tuesday, April 4th, 2023 at one o’clock in the afternoon St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church 1801 Sage Road Houston, Texas 77056 The funeral mass will be followed by a graveside service and reception. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Bill Paulea in support of Houston Methodist Nantz Alzheimer Center for Dr. Masdeu Research Programs P.O. Box 4384 Houston, Texas 77210-4384 Or online at https://givingforms.houstonmethodist.org/GeneralGivingForm Please note Bill’s name in the payment section so the gift will be routed to the Alzheimer Center. Thank you for your generosity.

William Allen Paulea II

August 31, 1944 - March 17, 2023