Paul Elanjian

Paul Elanjian (born November 30, 1923 to Sarkis and Mary Elanjian), of Havertown, Pennsylvania, beloved husband of the late Doris Elanjian (nee Shahinian), wife of 52 years, loving father of Joyce (Anthony) Kowalski and Barbara Elanjian, grandfather of David Kowalski (Emily Furia), Lisa Kowalski (Robert Wannemacher), Michael Kowalski, and Lauren (John) Meehan (nee Kowalski), and Jonathan Deisher, Suzanne Deisher, Katherine (Daniel) Doyle (nee Deisher), and Gary (Meaghan) Deisher, and “Pop-Pop-Pop” to his great-grandchildren, Eva and Benjamin Kowalski and Adrienne and Jack Doyle, passed away at age 98 on January 14, 2022.

Paul was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated from John Bartram High School in June 1941. He joined the US Navy in April 1942 as a Seaman 3rd class and attained the rank of Radio Technician 1st class, being awarded three battle stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern service medal for his combat experience while serving on the destroyer USS Beatty (DD-640), which was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Algeria. He then served at the Naval Yard in Brooklyn before mustering out in October 1945. Paul continued in the electronics field, working as a radio and television technician for RCA, GE, and Sears-Roebuck before joining UNIVAC in 1954. As UNIVAC became Sperry-UNIVAC and eventually Unisys, Paul proved his skill with ever-evolving computer technology, moving from his initial position as a circuit draftsman to board designer, project lead, and finally principal engineer, serving on several internal standards boards. He represented the company internationally, traveling to Japan, England, Italy, and Germany, and retired in 1988.

Paul was an active member of Union United Methodist Church in Havertown for over 65 years, serving as treasurer of the trustees, president of the United Methodist Men, and assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, and enjoyed events with his wife, Doris, as part of the “Mr. and Mrs.” Club. He was also a 58-year member of Cassia Mt. Horeb Masonic Lodge in Ardmore, a 32° Mason of the Scottish Rite Valley of Philadelphia, and a member of Lulu Shrine in Plymouth Meeting. He enjoyed traveling in the US, Canada, and Europe with his wife and with friends from church. He was an avid amateur radio operator (NX3Q), joining the HAM radio club at Sperry-UNIVAC and continuing to participate after retirement.

Paul will be remembered fondly by his family for his love of attending the concerts, sports events, plays, and musicals of all of his grandchildren, his dry sense of humor, and his inexplicable dislike of cooked chicken.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2022 (viewing, 11 a.m., service, 12 p.m.) at Logan-Videon Funeral Home (2001 Sproul Rd., Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Union United Methodist Church in Havertown, PA, or to the Shriners Children’s Hospital.

The Elanjian family requests all their guests at the funeral proceedings to wear a mask and be considerate of the social distancing. Thank You