Paul Douglas Oakley

Paul Douglas Oakley, 66, of Lakeland Florida, passed suddenly of cardiac complications on July 25 2025, at Lakeland Regional Medical Ctr. He was born on October 21, 1958, at Pope AFB in Fayetteville, NC , to the late Howard and Carolyn Oakley. He graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Illinois.

He met his spouse Chansri in Udon Thani, Thailand during an R&R from his job with Haliburton Seismic data analysis/collation for the oil industry in Bejing, China. He married Chansri in Udan Thani, Thailand several months later. They had no children. They eventually returned to the USA to Lakeland Florida to live next door to his parents and near his late sister Sharon(Shar) Oakley-Kinloch

Paul worked as a computer systems administrator/ computer service engineer for more than 30 years. Staring with Texas Instruments in Texas-Louisiana absorbed by Haliburton Oil exploration group doing Seismic data analysis/collation for the oil industry. This sent Paul around the world London England to Lagos Nigeria to Bejing China before the downsizing of the industry data centers brought him back to the USA. Paul & Sri moved to Lakeland, Florida where he eventually joined the IT support group of Publix Inc. Lakeland, Florida.

Paul was passionate about electronics & computers and enjoyed tinkering with them. He enjoyed photographing airplanes at airshows and attended most Sun & Fun EAA annual airshows. He was determined to begin travel camping and visiting family members.

Paul was survived by his brother Dennis (Rosana) Oakley of O'Fallon, Illinois; his nieces and nephews: Derek, Lara, Alaina, Caitlyn and Adam, and their children. He was preceded in death by his wife Chansri Oakley. His parents Howard & Carolyn Oakley, his aunt: Marion Blasters, his uncle: Donald Oakley, Aunt: Elaine Twilliger-Watts, sister: Sharon Oakley-Kinloch.

A funeral service will be held later in August, 2025 at the St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Troy, Ill. with Pastor Albert Collver officiating. Burial will follow at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Bethalto, Il.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a local community charity or Veterans support group in Paul's name.

Online condolences can be made at www.lanier.care.
Funeral arrangements were trusted to Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road Lakeland, FL 33805, (863) 687-3996

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