In 1967, he was a member of the 50th Ward Volunteer Ambulance Service, where he met Art Lampert Jr. In the fall of 1968, Art convinced Paul to visit the Black Hills. After one visit, he was hooked, and he immediately relocated to South Dakota, where he would remain for the rest of his life.

In 1973, Paul started working for Black Hills Workshop at the sawmill at Pine's Edge, eventually transitioning to the offices in Rapid City. In 1973, Paul married Nancy Erikson. Through this union, his two beloved children were born, Paul Joseph and Angela Frances Stabile. In 1990, Paul was married to Ruthie Banner.

While at the workshop, Paul worked his way up to becoming the Vice President of Operations, where he was responsible for retaining government contracts at EAFB, which benefitted many people with disabilities by providing them with job opportunities. In the late 1980s, he was a member of the National Council of Work Centers, and in the 90s, he became a member of the NISH board of directors, now known as Source America, and he later became a member of the executive committee, serving as board treasurer. After leaving the board, he became a trainer for persons with disabilities, helping them learn self-advocacy skills. Because of his dedicated service to people with disabilities for over four decades, he was recognized as the Milton Cohen Leadership Award recipient. Paul traveled all over the United States, helping other CRPs get started in service contract work jobs. He was considered an expert in the disability field, responsible for over 1,000 people with disabilities who still have jobs today. He retired from Black Hills Works in 2004.

Paul was a member of the Leadership Rapid City Organization, Class of 1987. In the 1990's, Paul was also chairman of the Military Affairs Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee through the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, and he worked to keep EAFB open during those years. With Health and Human Services, he initiated the Wind Beneath Our Wings award, recognizing health and human services professionals. He was a member of Century Club and an Honorary Commander as part of the Honorary Commander's program at EAFB.

Paul was an avid fly fisherman, who fished everywhere in the Black Hills, the Big Horns, Alaska, Tennessee, and any other place he could find with water. He was a member of Black Hills Fly Fishers, and he loved tying flies and guiding visitors on fishing trips in the Black Hills. He enjoyed the camaraderie with other fly fishermen at Dakota Angler and Outfitter on Saturday mornings, and he will always be remembered with a fly rod in his hand.

Paul is survived by his wife, Ruth Stabile, Rapid City; two children, Angela Stabile and Paul Joseph Stabile (Megan Gould); children, Donna Rae and Michael Wickliffe; two stepchildren, Curtis (Megan) Jones, and Travis (Cherye) Jones; and grandchildren, Noah, Bianca, Laina, Waylon, Marty, Shelby, Wyatt, Cody, Jennifer, Stephen, Daniel, and Diana. Other survivors include his sister, Patricia Stabile of Connecticut; nephew, Vincent Lanci; aunt, Mary Daly; and numerous cousins. He is also survived by brother and sister in-law, Skip and Claudia Banner; mother-in-law, Anna Banner; stepsisters, Arlene Gaspari and Rose Pizzuto of New Jersey and their five children; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Stella and Madeline; his father and mother; his stepmother, Josephine; his aunt, Millie; his uncles, Tony, Joseph, and Gene; two cousins; and his grandfather-in-law, Herrmann.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, at Calvary Lutheran Church, with Pastor Becky Piper officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Black Hills Workshop/People First Advocacy; Calvary Lutheran Church; or Black Hills Flyfishers, PO Box 1621, Rapid City, 57709-1621.