PAUL EDWARD DORAN

Paul Doran, the 7th child, 3rd son, of David Daniel and Sarah Jane Pickard Doran was born on July 28, 1907 in DuBois, PA, perhaps at 631 West Long Avenue (where the family was living, April 1908). He was baptized by the Rev. Bernard McGivney in St.Catherine of Siena Church, August 11th with godparents, Frederick J. Brown (shoe store owner) and Ellmasia Henretty. In the 1915? Doran family picture, Paul is fifth from the right; in the 1917? Doran family photograph Paul is to the left of his mother. Hazel-eyed Paul would be the shortest of the Doran men.

Paul began his schooling in DuBois, but it was all too soon interrupted. One day he thought he had been stung by a bee andnext he was being treated at the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh for the childhood polio that left him with a lame right leg. The whole Doran family packed up and moved back to Pittsburgh to be closer to Paul. His mother, Sarah, wrote to Gerald overseas in the Army (May 1918):

"Gerald, little Paul is doing fine so far and I hope and pray that the danger period is past and the Dr's and nurses think he is wonderful and so sensable. He is a little soldier. He said "You don't need to worry about me mother because there are other children in the room. And we take him oranges and chewing gum. He was so pleased to get your letter. He showed it to us. The nurse says he gives them no trouble at all and I worried thinking he would be nervous or fussy. So you see we never know what one is capable of till the time comes. Whenhe sees Mama and Papa hiseyes fill with tears of joy. Dear little man, I hope he will soon be home with us again."

Paul later attended Cathedral School and was confirmed at St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, May 15, 1921, where he served as analtar boy. The Doran's were a close-knit family. Paul taught nephew, Hank, how to play baseball; Paul being always the pitcher. And the fights that Paul as a teenager would begin, were usually finished by his younger, but larger brother, David. As an adult, Paul loved to listen to the football & baseball games on the radio - he was a rabid Notre Dame & Pittsburgh Pirate fan.

Once when the Christmas tree was too tall for the ceiling, Paul merrily whacked off the top -- thus ruining the tree's beauty in the opinion of the rest of the Dorans who refused to speak to Paul for days. Younger brother, John, purchased an electric train set with the money he received as a newspaper carrier. John was horrified late one night/ early morning to find Paul, Gerry, and David (full of schnapps) laughing hysterically as they tried to see how fast they could make the train run before it zoomed off the tracks.

His brother David's, girlfriend, Peg McKeever, introduced Paul to his future wife. Peg worked at the Pittsburgh Telephone Company with dark-haired Evelyn Ann Parton (born in Rankin, PA, 4/15/1911). The four often double dated. Paul & Evelyn loved going to the movies. Paul married his sweetheart in St. Anselm's RC Church, Swissvale, PA in the late 1920's. Their only child, Louise, was born in 1930, in her grandmother's (Delia King Parton's) Palmer Street house in Swissvale.

According to his brother, Bill, Paul always had a difficult time finding and keeping employment. He worked in a grocery store, and for awhile Paul was a chauffeur for Charles Wolfe, Vice President of the Aluminum Company of America. Often Paul would shuttle Mr. Wolfe between his Connecticut house & his Amberson Place home in Pittsburgh (Shadyside). Louise fondly remembers the summer that they moved into the beautiful large house. The Wolfe's had put it on the market and needed the Doran's to be caretakers, so it would not look empty. Young Louise, who was about 8 or 9 years old, loved pretending it was theirs. She also remembers her mom telling her about the day when Evelyn took 15cents to shop for greens for their soup during the Depression.

For a number of years Paul & his young family lived with the rest of the Doran's at 5518 Howe Street. Families often shared the same home to survive. In the evening the youngsters of the Doran house were supposed to be listening to the radio in the dining room, while the living room and porches were used by Doran's who were dating. Louise, with her cousins, Betty Jane & Rosemary, would often peek out the back window to watch Doug McRae and Helen Doran smooching. On New Year's the whole household would line up to follow Dave Doran as he played his violin all through the house -- up to the third floor and down to the basement -- after which Dad Doran distributed shiny new dimes to one & all.

When the Doran's lost their house on Howe Street (relocating to Baltimore), Louise was in the 6th grade [1941/42]. Paul and his family moved to nearby Swissvale. At last, he obtained work for Wilson & Snyder's Oil Well Supply Company, in Braddock, PA. Paul hated his first job there in the messy shop, but when he was transferred to the engineering department to do drafting work, he enjoyed the people and liked being dressed up and dapper again. No more greasy clothes and he had a social life again! Paul joined a bowling league, started golfing on Saturdays - which he loved- and played poker with the boys.

Paul & Evelyn celebrated their daughter, Louise's, wedding to William Henry (Mickey) McArdle in 1950 and were soon enjoying grandparenting duties when tragedy struck. Paul's wife, Evelyn, developed breast cancer at age 40 - dying at her home (7220 Schoyer Ave, Swissvale) 21 months later, on Saturday, September 18, 1954. Both Paul and his daughter, Louise, were devastated, but the young McArdle children kept them going.

When Wilson & Snyder moved their operation to Texas, Paul's family tried to persuade him not to move so far away. However, Paul accepted a job as a Repair Clerk with the company, moving to a boarding house in Garland, TX (1816 Ridgecrest Drive). As always, Paul lived for his grandchildren (Billy, Michael, & Evelyn Ann) and would drop by to see them in Pennsylvania whenever he could. In August of 1962, during one visit back to Louise & Mickey's home in Swissvale [7807 Westmoreland], Paul Doran suffered a heart attack and was put in Braddock Hospital's coronary care unit. Paul recuperated a bit at Louise's to get some strength back, then began the long trek back to Texas. As he was driving back, Paul had a massive heart attack in his Pryor, OK motel room and died there on August 30, 1962. His funeral (like his wife's) was at St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church in Swissvale, PA, followed by burial beside her in the Braddock Catholic Cemetery.

Louise Mary Doran McArdle

Louise, the only child of Paul & Evelyn Doran, was born in Swissvale, Pa in 1930. She attended St. Paul's Cathedral School in Pittsburgh, St. Anselm's Catholic School, Swissvale , then one year at Sacred Heart High School, Swissvale. Louise graduated from Swissvale High in 1948. She worked at the Mellon Bank for two years, then married William Henry (Mickey) McArdle in St. Anselm's R.C. Church, Swissvale on August 12, 1950. Their first child, Bill, was born in Columbus, OH (1951)where they were living; while Mike (1952) and Evelyn Ann (1956) were born after they moved back to Swissvale, PA. Louise's husband was promoted to CEO of Cott Brewing Co. of Braddock, PA and enjoyed that position for 10 years until they closed the plant. Louise & Mickey moved South to Florida in 1976. They both obtained Realtor's Licenses, while their son, Michael, obtained a construction license. For 10 years the family built and sold McArdle Homes. They made nice solid houses and many good friends but not much money, according to Louise.

At present, their son, Bill, lives in Brentwood, Pgh, Pa with his wife, Jill, and daughter Lindsay; Michael lives in Port St. Lucie, FL with his wife, Patty, and sons Michael Ryan & Ryan James; and Evelyn Ann lives in Vero Beach, FL with her husband, Vaughan Heulett, & son, Matthew.

Louise's second heart bypass surgery this past spring has given her more pep. Louise & Mickey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, August 12, 1950.