Cpl. Paul Eugene Hoots was born on May 8, 1925, to John Henry Hoots and Willie Eunice (Constable) Hoots of Galesburg, Illinois. Paul enlisted in the United States Army on October 12, 1948. On July 7, 1950, he was reported missing in action near Ch’anon, South Korea at the very onset of the Korean Conflict.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency together with other U.S. Agencies has worked untiringly to identify the remains of service men lost in the Korean Conflict. On November 15, 2024, the Defense POW/MIA reported identifying a set of remains as that of Corporal Paul Eugene Hoots. The family is very grateful to them for their meticulous labors.
Corporal Paul Eugene Hoots had four sisters: Carry (Owen) Peterson, Dorothy (Donald) Franklin, Nellie (Clayton) Alder, and Esther (Cleo) Olson, all of whom are deceased. Surviving nieces and nephews include Carol Franklin of Canton, Illinois, Ruth Gordon of Loogootee, Indiana, Jeanette Page of Gilbert, Arizona, John Franklin of Bryant, Illinois, Janet Rose of Sunlakes, Arizona, and James Olson of Clearwater, Florida. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, great-great-greats. He also had two other nephews: David Franklin of Shoals, Indiana, who is deceased and James Peterson, whose location is unknown and two other nieces: Phyllis Franklin of Peoria, Illinois and Janice Canady of Aledo, Illinois, who are deceased.
Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral and Cremation Services of Galesburg, Illinois. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial with full Military Honors will be with his folks in East Linwood Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.h-p-w.com.
