John Paulas
John Paulas, a.k.a. “Africa John” of Goldendale, Washington suffered a massive heart attack and died on Friday, August 21, 2020. Born in 1946, John grew up in Chatham and later Fredon Twp., New Jersey. He was a 1965 graduate of Newton High School. John graduated with an associate degree in forestry from Paul Smith’s College of Saranac Lake, N.Y. in 1968. In the fall of 1968 John entered the training program for the Peace Corps. He served as a volunteer and later as a coordinator of training in Tangiers, Morocco for 12 years. During those years John became interested in buying and selling Moroccan rugs and learning about Neolithic trade beads. John also worked in several north African (Saharan) countries under the guise of the U.S.A.I.D. (Agency for International Development) and the United Nations for about 20 years. He was sent in as the project coordinator for special environmental programs in Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Sudan, and Somalia. John returned to the U.S. in the 1990’s and began his business, “Africa John’s Handmade Stone Beads.” He was often seen selling and/or demonstrating his methods at rock and gem shows throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. In the early 2000’s, John settled in Goldendale, Washington where he later became the very proud father of his daughter, Latisha. John was predeceased by his father, Robert Paulas, and his mother, Hilda (Rowe) Paulas. He is survived by his daughter, Latisha of Goldendale, his sister Judy (Glenn) Struck of Milford, DE, his nephew Brian Struck of Villanova, PA and his niece, Jennifer Potocki of Milford, DE. Burial service was held at Ekone Ranch at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25. Due to Covid-19 regulations, only family members may attend. All must wear a mask.Obituary
John Paulas, a.k.a. “Africa John” of Goldendale, Washington suffered a massive heart attack and died on Friday, August 21, 2020. Born in 1946, John grew up in Chatham and later Fredon Twp., New Jersey. He was a 1965 graduate of Newton High School. John graduated with an associate degree in forestry from Paul Smith’s College of Saranac Lake, N.Y. in 1968. In the fall of 1968 John entered the training program for the Peace Corps. He served as a volunteer and later as a coordinator of training in Tangiers, Morocco for 12 years. During those years John became interested in buying and selling Moroccan rugs and learning about Neolithic trade beads. John also worked in several north African (Saharan) countries under the guise of the U.S.A.I.D. (Agency for International Development) and the United Nations for about 20 years. He was sent in as the project coordinator for special environmental programs in Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Sudan, and Somalia. John returned to the U.S. in the 1990’s and began his business, “Africa John’s Handmade Stone Beads.” He was often seen selling and/or demonstrating his methods at rock and gem shows throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. In the early 2000’s, John settled in Goldendale, Washington where he later became the very proud father of his daughter, Latisha. John was predeceased by his father, Robert Paulas, and his mother, Hilda (Rowe) Paulas. He is survived by his daughter, Latisha of Goldendale, his sister Judy (Glenn) Struck of Milford, DE, his nephew Brian Struck of Villanova, PA and his niece, Jennifer Potocki of Milford, DE. Burial service was held at Ekone Ranch at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25. Due to Covid-19 regulations, only family members may attend. All must wear a mask.