Paul Hatch, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed from this earthly life on Thursday July 17, 2025. Paul was 93 years young.

Paul was born on August 20, 1931, in Preston, Idaho to Daniel George Hatch and Elsie May Gooch Hatch. Paul had four sisters and four brothers. Paul's mother passed away when he was just 6 months old. He always longed to know her, but felt she had a great influence on his life. He often asked himself… "Would she be proud of my actions? Then I usually set about to make them admirable… There are times I need to repent, and I usually do so before I get too far off the narrow path."

When Paul was a young boy, his good buddies and those who loved him gave him two endearing nicknames, Pollywog and Paul Revere. He loved growing up in the small town of Oxford, Idaho where harmless fun was had as a young boy. Some of the things he remembered about elementary school were, "Peanut parties, Mr. Larson listening to hear if I could sing, being hit on the head for painting a haystack red, playing marbles at recess, warm steam pipes around the room, girls, basketball and hot chocolate."

In High School, Paul loved sports. He played on the football, basketball and baseball teams. He also boxed one year against an Olympic candidate. His opponent won by TKO… that was the end of his boxing career. Paul thought the high school dances were fun because friends traded dance partners every tune. Paul graduated from High School in 1949.

Paul served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He received his mission call to the Western Canada Mission on December 2,1950. Upon his return he was called to serve in the U.S. military. In 1953, during the Korean war, Paul served his country in the Counter-Intelligence Corp for the United States Army. Many a fine tale has been spun among his grandkids, because they secretly believe he is the real "007".

After the war, Paul returned to Utah and attended Utah State University. Paul graduated with an Engineering degree in 1959 and began his Civil Engineering career at Thiokol Chemical. While working at Thiokol Chemical he was part of the team that designed the Minute Man rocket that would propel nuclear defensive weapons. He also worked for the forest service as an engineer, building bridges, hiking trails and campgrounds in the Rocky Mountain range Including Targhee National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest and Yellowstone. The hiking trails and campgrounds around Red Fish Lake, Island Park and Yellowstone are enjoyed by many visitors to this day.

Paul married the love of his life Cynthia Carol Roundy in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple on May 6, 1960. Paul and Carol have 8 children: Blake, Starlie, Michael, Bonnie, Cynthia, Daniel, Dean and Jessica. Paul once wrote, "A special tribute to my wife, Carol, for her silent service and for nurturing and caring for our children with a great measure of success. With her understanding heart and contagious personality, she lifted many people…she is the same to everyone, no matter what their background."

Paul, because of his military service, was offered an opportunity to purchase raw land north of Pasco Washington in the block 17 irrigation district. Paul worked at Hanford as an engineer while also developing many acres of land until the farm became sustainable. He then began farming full time. This piece of raw desert blossomed with his hard work, the efforts of his family and many who joined in to create the beautiful oasis his family has called home for almost 60 years.

Paul loved the outdoors. He loved to go fishing, camping and hunting. He especially loved to go fishing with his boys and later with his grandsons. The Columbia irrigation district offered many fishing opportunities that Paul got excited about. Some of his favorite fishing holes were Ringold, Katie and Susan Lake, Big Fork Lake, Touchet River and Tucannon to name a few. He would often take his boys fishing after they worked together all day, making great memories that would last a lifetime. Paul also spent time with his sons crabbing and fishing off the Oregon and Washington coasts. He took his young family to Kalaloch on the Olympic peninsula to dig for clams, smelt fish and he made the best clam chowder! It was one of his family's favorite "get away" spots.

In 1979, Paul started the development of the Burbank Washington project. The land was nothing but barbed wire fences, cedar posts and sagebrush. He had a vision of turning that into a profitable, irrigated project. With his engineering skills, he installed a pumping station at the Columbia River near Boise Cascade near Wallula, Washington. The pumping station provided water to irrigate the 13,000 acres that was developed with center pivot irrigation. To this very day this area benefits from Paul's hard work and ingenuity.

Paul was an entrepreneur! He set out on another business venture to grow and pack onions. Hatco Packing provided many people with jobs in the farming community. He made many friends along the way and Paul enjoyed working closely with his sons on this venture.

Paul also invested in a gravel pit along the Touchet river. There was not an accessible way to access the gravel pit so once again with his skills as an engineer, Paul built a bridge. After the bridge was built and access was now possible, many truckloads of gravel came out of that pit and crossed that bridge he built. There was a time when the Touchet river flooded its banks and caused terrible destruction to everything in its path. The bridge Paul built still stood after that flood, right where he put it, strong, steady and immoveable just like the man who built it.

In Paul's later years, he operated The Hatch Patch on his homestead, where he taught his grandchildren the value of hard work, honesty and family togetherness. Many Farmer's Market days were staffed with those proud and happy kids as they worked alongside their grandpa. The Hatch Patch has been a labor of love for Paul. He has been a genuine gift for those who come to the farm for produce, a golf cart ride, a smile, a handshake and to visit with this wise and generous man. Lives have been changed by this legend of a man who was so humble, he didn't even know he had become a legend.

Paul has 8 children, 26 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He has left us with a legacy of love. We are so grateful for this life well lived as he walked in the Savior's footsteps, touching lives for good.

Paul served selflessly as a Bishop, Stake President and in many other capacities in the faith he loved. He loved those he served. He served with everything he had and gave freely of his time, talents and spiritual gifts.

Paul loved serving the youth. He offered acceptance, encouragement, wisdom and genuine love as he guided them along to become the best they could be. He coached their basketball games, spent many days and nights joining them in their planned activities while the youth would give service, learn new skills or dance the night away at church dances. He spent many hours teaching them by his example. They loved him!

Paul Hatch will be deeply missed. Until we meet again, well done thou good and faithful servant.

Services will be held:

Thursday July 24, 2025

Viewing 10:00 AM

Funeral service 11:00 AM

Pasco North Stake building

4618 Porto Lane, Pasco, Washington

Interment:

Saturday July 26, 11:00 AM

Smithfield City Cemetery

96 S. Main Street

Smithfield, Utah.

To watch the Funeral service live: https://www.youtube.com/live/wNFH2SeVP1Q?si=cJpwoLfAvJxU-mkE