Paul Jacob Weitzenkorn

Local businessman and WWII veteran Paul Jacob Weitzenkorn passed away peacefully on Feb. 4, 2024, at the age of 101. Born on June 19, 1922, in Bonn, Germany, Paul fled from his home in Mayen to the U.S. in 1939 as a Holocaust refugee. He was inducted into the U.S. Army as a Ritchie Boy in 1943 and assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment until the war ended in 1945. In 1946,

Paul met Ruth Goldsmith, his wife of 62 years. They went into business in Mulberry, FL, in 1948 and lived there for 10 years before moving to Lakeland, where they opened Fashion City and remained for more than five decades. Paul owned Erich's Department Store in Winter Haven from 1968 until his retirement in 1986. He trained and exhibited dogs in obedience and tracking competitions as a hobby until he retired. Paul was a member of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club, the local B'nai B'rith Chapter and various other civic organizations. He was a long-time member of Temple Emanuel of Lakeland, and he and Ruth were instrumental in the founding of Temple Beth Shalom in Winter Haven. He loved traveling and taking long walks with his Ruth and writing about his family and life. He is remembered for his kind heart, humor and strength.

Paul is survived by his brother Otto Weitzenkorn and his children Bonnine Bernstein and Judy Miller, along with sister-in-law Elaine Weitzenkorn, son-in-law Dave Miller, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Ruth and his son Dan Weitzenkorn.

The family's deepest love and gratitude to Elma Savage.

Please direct gifts in Honor of Paul Jacob Weitzenkorn to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at www.ushmm.org/tribute or call 1-866-998-7466.