Paul K. Haines, 90, died Feb. 28, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Madlyn (Leibensperger) Haines, with whom he lived for 67 years of marriage. Born in Cetronia, he was the last surviving child of Ida (Grim) and Ira Haines.

Along with his brothers, Wilbur, Joe, and Albert, he 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 in Cetronia.

He attended Parkland High School, The Perkiomen School and Ursinus College, where he graduated with a B.S.B.A. 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. 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 entitled "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 Paul's leadership, Trexler-Haines grew to be one of the largest independently owned propane gas dealerships in the northeast.

He served as president of the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association in 1961; state director, Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association, 1972-1976; and District 9 executive director, National Propane Gas Association, 1976-1996, during which he represented the propane gas industry 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, Florida.

He served on the board of directors of Merchant's Bank, The 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.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Allen and his wife Bonnie, of Jewett, N.Y., and John and his wife Denise, of Millstone Township, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Ella, Jennifer, Paul, Katharine, Darcy and Jessica; goddaughter, Lynne Roth, of Wescosville.

Contributions may be made to Cedar U.C.C memorial fund, 3419 Broadway, 18104.

Arrangements were made by the Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown.