Walter Gerald Paulk, 87, of Price Road, Carrollton, died Saturday, October 20, 2012, at his residence.

He was born in Ocilla, Georgia, on August 2, 1925, the son of the late Aza Paulk and the late Mattie Tomberlin Paulk.

He was inducted into the United States Army on April 19, 1944, at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida, for 17 weeks infantry training. He was then transferred to San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he continued infantry and tank training. In December, 1944, he was transferred to Europe and in January, 1945, was shipped to Belgium and assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 343 Infantry Regiment. He participated in the Ardennes Battle and Central Europe Battle in Germany and was presented with the Ardennes Battle Star and the Central Europe Battle Star. In his twenty-six year military career, he received the following medals: Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Service Medal, European-African Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars. At the end of hostilities, he returned to the United States, received an Honorable Discharge, and began his careers in private life. He worked for a number of years in residential construction and for several years with the Muscogee County Board of education before he finally decided to retire. He moved from Columbus, Georgia, to the Carroll County area about seven years ago.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, George W. Paulk, Maggie Clements, Eloise Palmer, Nassie Ashley, Wilbur W. Paulk, Billie Daniels and Farrell Ring; and by his adopted son, John Michael Paulk.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-five years, Joyce M. Paulk of Carrollton; his children, Lorrie P. Davis and her husband, Ken, of Carrollton and Kenneth G. Paulk and his wife, Valerie, of Columbus; grandchildren, Alan Davis and his wife, Danielle, of Marietta, Ben Davis and his wife, Rachel, of Bethlehem, Robin Motes of Athens and Jason Paulk of Atlanta; four great-grandchildren, Carson Davis, Brooke Davis, Jayden Motes and Emily Davis; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, October 27, 2012, at 4 p.m. from the chapel of the J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home with the Rev. Michael Lowery, the Rev. Wayne Shelton and Carson Davis officiating. Special piano selections will be provided by Luan Pendley. Military honors will be conducted by the the United States Honor Guard Team from Fort Benning, Ga.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday, October 27, 2012, from 2 p.m. until the funeral hour.

In accordance with his wishes, the body was cremated, and the family requests that those desiring to do so make a contribution to Tanner Hospice Care, PO Box 1136, Carrollton, GA 30112 or to the American Cancer Society, 2970 Clairmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.jhoytthomas.com.

J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home, Villa Rica.