July 25, 2013
For Immediate Release
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| Paul Dameron, center, was recognized for 30 years of service at CU April 26 by Dr. Frank Cheatham, left, senior vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Michael V. Carter, president. (Campbellsville University Photo by Ye Wei “Vicky”) |
By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Paul Dameron, director of institutional research at Campbellsville University, loved duck hunting, cold weather and showing Newfoundland and Great Pyrenees dogs.
He loved the Lord and wanted his funeral to be a “celebration” as the “going home of a Christian” should be celebrated. Dameron went home to the Lord July 24 after a car accident on his way home. He was 58.
Dameron, who was an employee of CU 30 years, was flown from the accident to the University of Louisville where he died. According to the police report, a rock passed through the windshield of his vehicle striking Dameron. A roadside mowing crew was working in the area.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathy and Christian love to Betty Dameron and the entire Dameron family,” Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU, said, “The sudden and tragic death of Paul Dameron has saddened the entire Campbellsville University family. Paul was a dedicated, hard working and valued member of our administrative team.
“Paul Dameron spent three decades as a servant leader at CU and made many positive contributions to our students, faculty, staff and coaches. He had a keen and insightful mind and provided invaluable information and data as institutional research director.
“Above all, Paul’s close relationship with the Lord was evident in all facets of his life. His dear family and his many friends will miss him. While we mourn his death, we also celebrate his eternal life in Jesus Christ.”
Dameron was an admissions counselor at CU from 1977 to 1978. He became director of financial aid in 1978 and served to 1983. He left in 1983 to become financial aid counselor at the University of Alaska. He returned to Kentucky and served as Union College admissions counselor from 1985 to 1989 and came back to CU in 1989.
He was a 1976 graduate of Campbellsville University, where he received his bachelor of arts degree. He received his master of arts degree from Western Kentucky University in 1980.
Dameron served as pastor of two churches, Rolling Fork Baptist Church and Harts Chapel United Methodist Church. One of his pastor friends, the Rev. Fred Miller, was a close friend of Dameron’s, having worked with him when Dameron was director of financial aid.
Miller will preach his funeral “celebration” Saturday at 10 a.m. in Ransdell Chapel on the CU campus.
Miller said Dameron always thought of his wife, Betty, as a “precious gift from God.”
“His love for her exuded a sweet youthfulness, an infatuation, really. When he spoke to her on the phone, his voice rose a full octave.”
Miller said he had a lot to learn when he began working in financial aid.
“There were federal regulations, school policies and procedures, the various scholarships and the technology behind the entire system,” Miller said.
“So, what point does Paul stress first? ‘If my wife calls, I want to talk to her.’ That was rule Number One.”
Miller said, with both of them being Baptist pastors, he thought of Dameron as his mentor.
Another CU administrator who will miss Dameron will be Dr. Frank Cheatham, senior vice president for academic affairs.
“I considered Paul to be not only a colleague, but a good friend,” he said. “He was dedicated to his Lord, his family and Campbellsville University. His desire to help students succeed was strongly rooted in his love for people.”
Dameron loved being outside, Cheatham said, “but was a very detailed driven individual. He was continually asking the ‘what if’ type of question that made CU a better place to work. He will definitely be missed by all at CU.”
Miller, director of distance education, said Dameron loved showing his Newfoundland dogs.
“Paul had a vacation form on file that had everything but the date filled in. At top he wrote, ‘For the next day I wake up and more than an inch of snow on the ground.’ He loved winter weather and so did his Newfoundland Pyrenee dogs.”
He is survived by his wife Betty Creach Dameron; one son, Johnny Walters of Campbellsville; two daughters, Vicki Dameron of Lexington and Tammy Thomas of Bowling Green, Ky.; his mother, Lois Lynn Dameron; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three nieces and other family and friends.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 25 at Lyon-DeWitt Funeral Home in Campbellsville. Burial will be in Campbellsville Memorial Gardens.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.