Obituary: Paul V. Gump

Services for Paul V. Gump, 83, Oskaloosa, are pending while his wife, Natalie, is being treated at University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.

Mr. Gump died Nov. 13, 2003, in a car accident north of Lawrence that also injured his wife. He was born March 24, 1920, in Spokane, Wash.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Colorado. He and his wife moved to Oskaloosa in 1960.

He worked at the Midwest Psychological Field Station in Oskaloosa, studying how environment affected people’s behavior. He focused his work on schools and published his findings in the book “Big School, Small School,” co-authored by Roger Barker. He joined the psychology department faculty at Kansas University in 1962 and was retired at the time of his death.

He was active in the Oskaloosa community, where he served on the town council. He was inducted into the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. He was also active with Rotary International and was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

He and Natalie Gump were married in 1947. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, David Gump, Reston, Va.; two daughters, Deborah Gump, Athens, Ohio, and Martha Benedict, Lenexa; two brothers, Bill Gump, Oskaloosa, and John Gump, New York City; and three grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Paul Gump Education Fund to benefit teachers and students in Oskaloosa schools, sent in care of the State Bank of Oskaloosa, P.O. Box 325, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Barnett Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is handling arrangements.