MADISON (07/21/2010) -- The Rev. Paul N. L. Munson, Jr., formerly pastor in Plymouth, Woodstock, and East Haven, died on June 29, 2010 at Madison House Care and Rehabilitation Center following a courageous battle of more than 50 years with multiple sclerosis. He was 75.
He was born in Bristol, Connecticut, on Dec. 4, 1934, son of the late Paul N. L. Munson, Sr., and Carrie Harris Munson. He was a graduate of Farmington High School (Class of 1952), Wesleyan University (Class of 1956), and Harvard Divinity School (Class of 1959), where he received his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained to the Christian Ministry at the First Church of Christ, Congregational (UCC) in Farmington that same year.
Paul served three UCC parishes in Connecticut during his fourteen years in pastoral ministry: the First Congregational Church UCC of Plymouth, the First Congregational Church UCC of Woodstock, and the Foxon Congregational Church UCC of East Haven. Upon his retirement due to his illness, he and his family settled in North Haven and joined the North Haven Congregational Church UCC.
A resident of North Haven for many years, he was active there as a Boy Scout leader at Clintonville School, and was active for much of his life with the CT Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Hartford Audubon Society.
Paul and his family loved to travel and visited many of our 50 states, about many of which he wrote songs that were later published as a songbook entitled “Herons at Sunset.”
He was the beloved husband of the late Carol Kroymann Munson. He is also survived by his dear son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth K. Munson and Amelia Shen; and their three much loved children, Karl, Amy and Hannah Munson; all of Saratoga, California; and several cousins.
A service in celebration of Rev. Munson's life and ministry will be held at the North Haven Congregational Church UCC on Saturday, July 24, at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Scott Morrow officiating. Friends may greet the family at a reception in the church hall immediately following the service. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family and there will be no calling hours.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to: Residents’ Recreation Fund, Madison House Care and Rehabilitation Center, 34 Wildwood Avenue, Madison, CT 06443.
