Paul C. Best
Paul C. Best, 84, of Allentown, passed away suddenly Thursday, April 1, 2021 at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Rau) Best to whom he was married 60 years last May 28. Born in North Whitehall Township, August 8, 1936, Paul was the son of the late Clinton H. and Esther S. (Kern) Best. He faithfully and honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force during a peacetime era. He attended Kutztown University while pursuing an art degree, but left school to take a job with the product development center at Mack Trucks, where he designed truck cabs for more than 40 years before retiring in 2000.
In his early 20's, Paul was introduced to the sport of skiing by friends who took him to Elk Mountain on the weekends. He fell in love with the sport and was soon an instructor at Apple Hill ski area in Kernsville. He became co-director of the ski school until the area closed in 1976, then taught at Hahn Mountain in Kempton for three years and finally at Little Gap Ski Area, now Blue Mountain, where he shared his love of the sport with students for more than 40 years. Countless numbers of ski instructors credit Paul with teaching them how to ski “back in the day,” and he passed his love of the sport onto his daughters and grandson Nevyn, who is a racer on the Blue Mountain Race Team.
He also loved Corvettes and visited car shows with his fellow enthusiasts for many years. In his retirement, he could most often be found in his garden, tending to his many plants and trees. He was a member of the American Rhododendron Society – Lehigh Valley Chapter.
Survivors: In addition to his wife, Barbara; daughters, Jennifer E. Best and Jessica D. Best both of Philadelphia; sister, Eleanor R. Kistler of Allentown; grandson, Nevyn; predeceased by siblings, Betty A. Beidler, Christine Sauerwine, Dorothy Correll, and Henry F. Best.
Service: Funeral services will be held 7:30 pm. Wednesday, April 7, 2021 in the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. 4906 Route 309, Schnecksville with the
Rev. Maritza Torres Dolich officiating. Family and friends may pay their respects from 6:00 pm. – 7:30 pm. Wednesday in the funeral home. Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelmancares. com. Strict COVID-19 restrictions will be followed; everyone must wear a mask and practice social distancing. A zoom link will be provided on the funeral home website under Paul's obituary. It will go live approximately 15 minutes prior to the service.
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness for someone less fortunate in remembrance of Paul.