Paul Allan Stuber

Paul Allan Stuber, 96, passed away on December 19, 2025, at Northland Rehabilitation Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Born on July 4, 1929, on the Stuber family farm in St. Joseph, Missouri, Paul truly lived a life rooted in hard work, music, service, family, and friendship.

Paul was the youngest son of Alfred and Minnie Stuber and grew up alongside three brothers—Walter, Don, and George—and three sisters—Mada, Vesta, and Dorothy. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings, but he carried their influence and values with him throughout his long life.

From an early age, Paul knew responsibility. As a boy, he worked on the family dairy farm, learning the value of commitment and perseverance. Even more central to the Stuber household than work, however, was music. The Stuber home was often filled with song, and Paul learned to play the piano and trombone while singing alongside his family. Music became one of his greatest joys and lifelong gifts.

In high school, Paul flourished musically—singing in choir and performing in band, orchestra, pep band, and jazz band. He received honors for his musical achievements and, together with his brothers, often sang as a quartet in church and around town. Those who heard them remembered not just their talent, but the joy they shared in performing together. Paul also participated in ROTC all four years of High School and served as an officer his senior year before graduating from Central High School in 1947.

As his older brothers left home to serve or pursue careers, Paul remained behind as the youngest son to help run the farm. In 1951, shortly before enlisting in the United States Air Force, Paul met Phyllis Younger, a nurse working in St. Joseph. Though stationed in Alaska, Paul and Phyllis stayed closely connected through letters, building a bond that would last a lifetime. They married on June 10, 1955, beginning a partnership marked by deep love, loyalty, and shared adventure.

Paul served four years in the Air Force as a jet aircraft mechanic and was honorably discharged after completing his service in Bossier City, Louisiana. Returning to Missouri, he worked for the railroad while pursuing his education, earning his FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate. Aviation quickly became more than a career—it became Paul’s calling.

In 1956, Paul joined Trans World Airlines, where he spent decades as a mechanic, lead mechanic, and eventually a Maintenance Instructor. One of the proudest moments of his career came in 1969, when he helped certify TWA’s first Boeing 747, developing maintenance and training manuals for the aircraft that changed commercial aviation. Paul retired from TWA in 1992, leaving behind a legacy of mentorship, pranks and professionalism.

Paul’s expertise and integrity were widely recognized. He served as an FAA Designated Maintenance Examiner for 15 years and earned numerous certifications and honors, including the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 2007, recognizing 50 years of dedicated service to aviation safety. He was equally proud of earning his Private and Commercial Pilot Certificates, fulfilling a lifelong dream of flight.

In the early 1970s, Paul’s love for aviation led him to begin freelance aircraft maintenance around Kansas City. This eventually brought him to Roosterville Airport, where a friendship with founder Floyd Mitchell turned into a partnership—and later, ownership. Paul purchased Roosterville Airport in 1993, guided by a simple but powerful belief: aviation should be accessible. He wanted Roosterville to be a place where the “everyday Joe” could own an airplane, learn, and belong. Under Paul’s care, the airport became exactly that—a welcoming community. He was known, respected, and genuinely loved by pilots, mechanics and aviation geeks throughout the region.

Family was always at the heart of Paul’s life. He and Phyllis welcomed their daughter Denise in 1956 and their son Gary in 1961. Paul was a playful, devoted father who delighted in music, laughter, and neighborhood gatherings. He was famous for entertaining children, jumping into games, and making everyone feel at home. He passed his love of music on to both Denise and Gary, cheering them on in their talents and pursuits.

Paul took great pride in watching his children and grandchildren grow. He was a loving grandfather to Hailey, Kelsi, Tyler, and Mikayla, and a joyful great-grandfather to Colton, Brayden, and Crew. He was also loved by Gary's wife, Samantha and Dee's husband, Frank. Few things made him happier than time spent with family, whether at home or at the airport surrounded by friends who felt like family.

In 2003, Paul and Phyllis purchased a home next to Roosterville Airport, a place that perfectly reflected their life together. After Phyllis’s passing in 2021, Paul remained there, continuing to run the airport with pride and joy, surrounded by memories, friendships, and the sound of airplanes he loved so dearly.

Paul Stuber will be remembered as a man of kindness, curiosity, humor, and generosity—a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and aviator. His life lifted others, and his legacy will continue to fly on in the countless lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to : Paul Stuber Memorial, Hope United Church of Christ, 19999 SSR-W, Cosby, MO 64436.