COLUMBIA CITY: Paul E. Mabie, 74, formerly of Columbia City, died at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2020, at Miller's Merry Manor, Warsaw, where he had been a resident since December 2019.

He was born on April 9, 1946, at Luckey Hospital, Wolf Lake, IN a son of the late Levon B. and Mable V. (Simmons) Mabie. His formative years were spent in Cromwell until his high school years when the family moved to Columbia City. He attended Columbia City High School.

He started his work career in the maintenance dept, of Blue Bell, Columbia City.

Later he worked for Columbia City Electric. Becoming a truck driver, he drove for Columbia Grain, Farmers Grain, Columbia City Freight Lines, and completed his career with TRM Trucking, Inc.

Belonging to the Buckskinners, he was an avid 1840's U.S. history buff, tracing the family lineage back to the Appalachian Mountains region. He was a regular at the club's rendezvous.

Enjoying camping and fishing throughout his life, he was a skilled fisherman. He is fondly remembered for his favorite saying – "damn-it bubb" or "what do you think."

He leaves behind three sons, Jeffrey (Angie) Mabie, Columbia City, Jason (Karen) Mabie, Warsaw, and James Mabie, Fort Wayne; two daughters, Stacey (Tim) Rapson, Fort Wayne and Jamie (Miguel) Alvarez, Etna Green; 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Ronnie and Jarred Mabie.