Obituary of Paul Dorsey Sherman

Paul Dorsey Sherman, Sr., 88, formerly of Bedford, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Stonebridge Retirement Community in Skillman, NJ. Born March 1, 1935, in Elkins, WV, he was the son of the late Paul E. Sherman and Mildred Sherman.

Paul was a standout athlete, excelling in basketball, football, and track at Elkins High School. He was well known for propelling Elkins to the West Virginia state basketball championship game as a freshman in 1950. Paul made a free throw with 26 seconds left in a quarterfinal game to defeat the defending state champions and pave the way for Elkins to reach the finals. He was later inducted into the Randolph County (West Virginia) Secondary Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Davis and Elkins College, where he played basketball, and the University of Virginia, Paul was a retired coach, teacher, and principal with more than 30 years of dedicated service to Bedford County Public Schools. He played a significant role in the establishment of Liberty High School in Bedford and became the school’s first head basketball coach.

Paul was also a veteran, who served for two years as a soldier in the Army Signal Corps.

He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Bedford and gave back to the community by volunteering as a youth sports coach and official for several years.

In retirement, Paul’s favorite pastime was spending time with his late wife of 51 years, Margaret F. Sherman. Paul and Margaret enjoyed traveling around the world and visiting with their children and grandchildren. Paul also stayed busy working as an assistant in the funeral service business and teaching driver’s training for Bedford County Public Schools.

In addition to his wife and parents, Paul was preceded in death by a sister, Aletha Sherman Gardner.

He is survived by a son, Colonel (Retired) Paul D. "Chip" Sherman, Jr., and his wife, Lourdes, of Lorton, VA; a daughter, Margaret  Sherman "Nicki" Draper, of Princeton, NJ; a granddaughter, Sarah Jo Draper, and grandsons, Westley Draper, Ruben Pagan-Ramos, and Ricardo Pagan-Ramos; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider The American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060; The American Cancer Society, PO Box 4110, Glen Allen, VA 23058;  or a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11am Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Main Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Dawn Compton officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, January 12, 2024, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at Updike Funeral Home, Bedford.

Arrangements by Updike Funeral Home, Bedford (540) 586-3304.