Paul Evert Coltharp, age 87, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on March 6, 2025, at Mercy Hospital. Paul, and his twin sister, were born to John Evert Coltharp and Vivian Prudence (Esson) Coltharp on August 3, 1937, in Caney, Kansas. Paul’s father was a minister, and the family lived in several different communities during Paul’s childhood. Paul began school at Caney Elementary. When he was seven years old, the family moved to Union Star, Missouri, and remained in Missouri. He attended schools in Union Star, Hallsville, and briefly in Centralia. He graduated from Hallsville High School in 1955.

Having been called to the ministry, Paul decided to go to Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee. After one year of study there, he chose to transfer to Drury College in Springfield. He graduated from Drury in 1960. Soon after arriving at Drury in the fall of 1956, he met his future wife, Janice (Jan) Salchow. They had their first date in January 1957, were engaged in March, and married in June. On Sunday, June 23, 1957, at the Osceola, Missouri, Christian Church, Paul was ordained into the ministry during the morning service and he and Jan were married in an afternoon ceremony with Paul’s father officiating. The Osceola Christian Church was Paul’s first pastorate. Paul and Jan shared 67 years together. They also celebrated 67 birthdays together as they were born on the very same day. They were blessed with six children: Paula, Brenda, Duane, Amy, Jeanette (Jaye), and Joel.

Paul served churches in Osceola, Greenfield and South Greenfield (concurrently), Sheldon, Creighton and Garden City (concurrently), Hermitage and Cross Timbers (concurrently), and he was the pastor of Broadway Bible Church, 501 South Broadway in Springfield from 1989 to the time of his death. Paul loved to teach God’s Word, and he loved the work of church ministry. He said he couldn’t find the word “retire” in the Bible, so he would continue to do the work to which he had been called for as long as God gave him strength. He had prepared for the February 16th morning worship service at the church, but on February 15th, he had a relapse of the pneumonia that hospitalized him for eleven days in December. This time, he was in the hospital for nineteen days, and God said, “Come home and rest. You’ve earned it.”

Paul also loved to sing gospel hymns. He sang a solo in every Sunday service, accompanying himself on the guitar. The music being played in his memorial service is from a CD that he recorded several years ago. In addition to his church ministry, Paul worked for funeral homes in the places the family lived. He had a close association with Greenlawn Funeral Home North that went back to the 1980s, and he was proud of that. Paul’s faith in God was apparent to anyone who spent much time with him.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; two older brothers, Ted Coltharp and Duane Coltharp; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Gayland Maize; grandson, Kevin Maize. He is survived by his wife, Jan; twin sister, Prudence Perkins; five children: Brenda Randles, Duane (Donna) Coltharp, Amy Coltharp, Jaye (Courtney) Owens, and Joel (Allison) Coltharp; nine grandchildren; and many more family members and friends.

Paul’s family will host a visitation on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield. The Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Greenlawn Funeral Home North. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Paul’s favorite Bible teacher, J. Vernon McGee, at Thru the Bible Radio Network, P.O. Box 7100, Pasadena, CA 91109 or online at ttb.org.

Arrangements are under the compassionate direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri.