C. Paul Estep

C. Paul Estep, 52, of Kingwood, passed away on August 8, 2019 at Preston Memorial Hospital after a brave battle with cancer.

 He was born November 9, 1966 in Wilmington, DE, the son of Connard Ray and Mary Rosetta (Plum) Estep. In addition to his parents, Paul is survived by his wife, Clarissa “Crissy” Lynn Carr Estep, whom he married on May 28, 2005. He is also survived by their children, William Carter Estep and Grace Ryan Estep; his brother, Michael Ray Estep; and his sister, Darlene Edna Antoine, both of Newark, DE. 

Paul graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle, DE in 1984.

He then moved to West Virginia University where he earned a degree in English (1988) and was recognized as a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He was a 1991 graduate of the WVU College of Law.

Paul was a plaintiff’s attorney, representing the average West Virginian against those with more resources, power, and influence. He began his legal career in Morgantown, WV with Hamstead, Hamstead, and Williams. In 1995 he started C. Paul Estep, Attorney at Law in Kingwood, WV where he provided legal services for regular people and small businesses. From 2000 to 2004, he served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Preston County. The majority of his legal career (2005 to 2018) was spent with Estep and Shaffer, LC in Kingwood, WV. No matter where he practiced, Paul realized that each case was important to his client, and therefore it was important to him.

As part of his professional career, he was a member of the West Virginia Association for Justice Board of Governors, the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors, Preston County Bar Association, and the Public Defender Corporation for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. In service to his community, he donated countless pro bono legal hours to community organizations. He was a twenty-five year member of the Reedsville United Methodist Church serving as a lay minister and on numerous church committees.

Paul often said, “money spent on books and travel is money well spent.” He especially loved to vacation in the Florida Keys. He loved twangy country music, listening to fiddle and banjo music, impersonating Rodney Dangerfield, camping at state parks, fishing with his family, and raising mules and donkeys.

 Family will receive friends at Morgan Funeral Home on Monday, August 12, 2019 from 2:00 to 8:00 PM. On Tuesday, August 13, 2019, Mr. Estep will be moved to the Reedsville United Methodist Church to lie in repose from 10:00 AM to the funeral hour 11:00 AM, with Pastor Brian Long officiating. Interment will follow at the Limestone Cemetery near Parsons.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Paul’s memory to The Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307 (www.cartercenter.org) or to the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at P.O. Box 9300, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-9300. Checks can be made payable to the WVU Foundation. Please add Paul’s name AND Comfort Fund to the memo line.

Personal condolences may be offered to the family at MorganFuneralHomeWV.com.

Morgan funeral home is honored to serve the Estep family.

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