Paul Roscoe Bleiler of Gulf Breeze, FL passed away on Friday, May 29, 2015. He was 92 years old. Paul was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on December 23, 1922 to Blanche Harriet (Saylor) Bleiler and Harvey Hiram Bleiler, Sr.. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1948 and served in the United States Navy during both World War II as well as during the Korean Conflict working primarily in the area of naval intelligence. He retired from the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and then worked as a civilian for the Naval Education and Training Command both in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Naval Yard and in later years in Pensacola where the same Command was consolidated in the early 1970's. Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Katharine Oleta Fletcher Bleiler, and his brother, Harvey Hiram Bleiler, Jr. He is survived by his longtime companion and friend, Pat Rose, and her children and grandchildren; daughter, Susan Bleiler, and her husband, John Kuder, and their two sons - Tim and Brian; daughter, Nancy Saylor, and her two daughters - Anna (Eric) and Mary; daughter, Amy Babst, and her husband, Frederick Babst, and their two sons - Francois and Valentin; son, David Bleiler, and his wife, Kelly Bleiler, and their three children - Cody (Carly), James and John; and great grandchildren - Mina, Zander, Kaelen, Kaylani, and Kai. Over the course of a long retirement, Paul divided much of his time between his Gulf Breeze home and his beloved farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He loved the out-of-doors and the active life but, when he wasn't playing tennis or golf or hiking or skiing or riding his bike or any number of other sports or activities, he could be found relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate next to a stack of books with the daily newspaper or a good book in his hands, reading and feeding his curiosity about the world around him. His interests were many and if you weren't careful you could find yourself on the other end of a spirited debate or discussion with him on any number of topics from the state of politics to religion to the minutiae of a Civil War battle. To those who knew him best, one of Paul's passions was the sport of tennis. On any given day, he could be found with friends at many of Pensacola's local tennis courts. He played tennis regularly throughout much of his life - from the time he was a young man in college on the Muhlenberg College team to as recently as a year ago at the age of 91 with Pensacola's Under the Hill League. In his later years, he participated in seniors' tennis tournaments around the country garnering awards, including, one in 2003 as the USTA National Men's 80 Indoors Doubles Champion and also with a third place finish in the USTA National Men's 80 Grass Court Doubles category. Later, in 2012, he was a finalist in the USTA National Mens' 90 Clay Court Singles category. Paul was certain if he could just outlive everybody else he could win at the top of his age category! While Paul loved anything competitive from a good game of chess to a pick-up basketball game with kids a fraction of his age, his greatest passion was for his family and the loved ones who filled his life. Snapshots of a life well lived with the ones he most cared about and the memories that flow from those images are endless and as unique as each of those he loved. In 1982, after the loss of his wife, Kathy, Paul discovered he had heart disease. He was given the option of surgery at the time but after receiving a book from a Navy doctor friend about the benefits of a low fat diet Paul drastically altered what he ate and continued with the sports and activities that he loved. For anyone who would listen, Paul was the evangelist for healthy eating and an active lifestyle. In the end, congestive heart failure took his life but there is no doubt that he was blessed with many years beyond what might have been due to the choices he made over thirty years ago. The family wishes to especially thank the doctors and their staffs who treated Paul in the last years of his life doing so with expert care and empathy and also to Mrs. Diana Lopez for her loving care giving and devotion to Paul this last year and for helping us to remember the humor in life. The family also extends a special thanks to Covenant Hospice for providing compassionate assistance to all of us in the final leg of Paul's race. In lieu of a formal service, a casual gathering of remembrance and celebration of Paul's life will be held on Friday, June 12th between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at the home of Paul's daughter, Susan Bleiler, and her husband, John Kuder, at 481 Deer Point Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561. A private interment service will follow at a later date at Barrancas National Cemetery.