Paul Coleman Faria's Obituary
Lifelong Oakland resident, Mr. Faria excelled in art, dancing and music at Fremont High. Thereafter, Mr. Faria played saxophone and clarinet with the Neil Bondshu and Carl Ravazza Orchestras from 1936 to 1942, traveling around the country playing in fine hotels, doing radio broadcasts and making records. For many years he led the Paul Faria Orchestra in the Bay Area and eventually played in and led the Guckenheimer Sour Kraut Band, which oom-pah-pahed their unique brand of music around the Bay Area for 36 years. That band appeared on TV shows with Arline Francis, Will Rogers, Jr., Arthur Godfrey, Ernie Ford and Don Sherwood, and the band recorded three albums. In 1942 Mr. Faria enlisted in the Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) and graduated from Officer’s Candidate School. From 1943 through 1945 he was a special services officer, stationed in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Guam (with the 501st Bombardment Group). He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1978 as a Lt. Colonel. Mr. Faria started work for Gump’s in 1947 and eventually was the director of its European Antiques and Interior Design Departments until he left in 1983. From 1984 until 2002 he successfully operated Paul Faria Designs, Inc., designing and selling custom furniture and antique reproductions. For 27 years he was married to Wilma Hosman who died in 1975 and has been married for the past 26 years to his surviving wife, Susan. He is also survived by his son, Paul “Vance” Faria and wife Pamela of Weed, CA; step-son, Barton Hosman and wife Marilyn of Lafayette, CA; step-daughters-in-law, Judith Hosman and Lorraine Chandler, of Napa, CA, as well as eight step-grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren. Paul will be missed by all those who knew him as an extremely good-hearted, honest, patient and selfless man. Friends are invited to the Memorial Service at 2:00 P.M., March 10, 2007 at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland. Donations in Paul’s honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society.
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