Paul K. Haines, 90, died Feb. 28, 2015.

The beloved husband of Madlyn (Leibensperger) Haines, the couple was married 67 years.

Born in Cetronia, he was the last surviving child of the late Ida (Grim) and Ira Haines.

Along with his brothers Wilbur, Joe, and Albert, young Paul worked alongside his father and his "Uncle Willy," Ira's brother, William Haines, in the Haines Brothers Flour Mill, now a national historic site and museum on Haines Mill Road, Cetronia.

His sister, Lillian, died at age 12 the same week he was born in 1924.

He attended Parkland High School, The Perkiomen School and Ursinus College, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1947.

He heroically served his country in World War II where he fought in the infamous Battle of the Bulge under Gen. George S. Patton's command.

As a soldier, he earned numerous medals and awards including the Bronze Star for heroism in combat.

Immediately after the surrender of Germany, at age 21, he was charged with supervising the rehabilitation of 13 German towns during the restoration.

He chronicled his wartime exploits in a book titled "A Private Life," published in 2013.

After the war, he joined his brother, Joe, in the Joseph I. Haines Appliance business, eventually spinning off his own propane gas company, Haines Gas, in 1949.

In 1960, he merged his company with Trexler Gas Service of East Greenville, to form Trexler-Haines Gas Inc.

Partner Russell Trexler left the day-to-day running of the company to Paul and, under his leadership, Trexler-Haines grew to be the one of largest independently owned propane gas dealerships in the northeast.

He served as president of the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association in 1961; state director of the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association, 1972-76; and District 9 executive director of the National Propane Gas Association, 1976-96, during which he represented the propane gas industry in negotiations with the Federal Energy Commission through the energy crisis of the mid-1970s.

Also around this time, he authored, "The History of Propane Gas," outlining the development of the industry from its inception in 1912.

He retired from the propane business in 1991, and spent his golden years between his homes on Riverbend Road, Allentown, and Naples, Fla.

He served on the board of directors of Merchant's Bank, Phoebe Home, and leant his business acumen as an advisor to numerous other community organizations. A stalwart man of God, he served as deacon, consistory president and Sunday School director at Cedar United Church of Christ, Cetronia.

In addition to his wife, Madlyn, he is survived by sons Allen and his wife, Bonnie, of Jewett, N.Y. and John and his wife, Denise, of Millstone Township, N.J.; grandchildren Ella, Jennifer, Paul, Katharine, Darcy, and Jessica; and goddaughter Lynne (Leibensperger) Roth of Wescosville.

Contributions may be made to Cedar UCC Memorial Fund, 3419 Broadway, Allentown, PA18104.

Arrangements were made by Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown.