GALION — A photo of Nollen Park, a quiet little space in Uptowne Galion, was shared in the May 18 issue with a query about who it was dedicated to: Paul E. Nollen.
The space has a plaque which reads: “This park is dedicated to the memory of Paul E. Nollen. Mr. Nollen served First Fenderal and Galion during an outstanding career. His love for nature and this community prompted the development of the park. It is given this 31st day of May 1986 to the City of Galion by First Federal Saving and Loan Association.”
But the Inquirer asked, is there more to learn about Nollen?
Reader Brent Wade enjoys genealogy and he was able to find more information, including Nollen’s burial site and his obituary:
Paul Elwood Nollen was born May 14, 1889 in Springfield, OH; he died Jan. 27, 1976 in Galion and was buried in Springfield. He attended Wittenberg University and The Ohio State University.
Nollen was a member of the board of directors of First Federal Savings and Loan Association and retired as its executive vice president in 1967. He moved to Galion in the early 1940s after working for Knox County Bank in Mount Vernon and the Ohio Bank Liquidators in Toledo.
He held 56-year memberships in the Alladin Temple Shrine in Columbus and the R.A.M. of Springfield. He was a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus; Galion Lodge 414 F.A.M., Clinton Commandery 5, Mount Vernon; Royal and Select Masons Council 17, Springfield; Scottish Rite Club, Galion; and the Galion Shrine Club, as well as chairman of the Civic Improvement Committee Galion that lead to the development of the Galion Airport.
He was also past junior and senior warden of Grace Episcopal Church and started the first community center held at the church during World War II.
A World War I veteran, he was a member of the American Legion Post 243 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Galion; United Commercial Travelers, Galion Elks Lodge 1191 and Galion Kiwanis Club of which he was a past president. He was also a former president of the real estate association in Springfield.
He first married Anna H. Hollenbeck in 1917. He subsequently married Maude Stellwagen in 1927 and then Gertrude Jones in 1962. He had no children.
