Age 83 - Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service Memorial Chapel. Burial with full military honors will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Major Bass very peacefully passed into the loving arms of his Savior on the morning of July 27, 2010. His family was by his side. He leaves his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa Kaye and Dan Hutts; three grandchildren, Jackson, Madison, and Samantha (his namesake); nieces and nephews; and a wealth of friends. Paul was born May 19, 1927, the son of the late Frank C. Bass, Jr. and Grace Potter Bass. Paul entered the U.S. Navy in October of 1942, at the age of 15, to serve our country in WWII. Following his wartime service with the Navy, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served 23 years active-duty attaining the rank of Major. Paul, nicknamed "Sam" during flight school, served in the Korean Conflict and the Viet Nam War. While stationed at Ft. Sill in 1959, Paul met his bride, Carolyn Kay Hennessee, the former "Miss Lawton" and they married in 1960. Carolyn and Sam had a marriage of great love and devotion lasting 45 years until her death in 2005. Paul served as a flight instructor and test pilot, flying both rotor-aircraft and fixed wings. During his flight career, Paul enjoyed acrobatic flying at international military air shows as well as being a test pilot and flight instructor. He retired from active duty and immediately began "flying from a desk". Paul enjoyed a 30-year career with the Department of Defense as project manager and foreign liaison on various helicopter programs but most notably, the Apache. During Paul's 53-year military career, he received numerous awards and decorations, foremost of which was his induction into the Honorable Order of St. Michael Silver Award presented upon retirement. After retiring, Paul and Carolyn relocated to Plano, Texas where they could be close to Melissa, Dan and their grandchildren. Paul enjoyed numerous activities and frequent visits with all three of his grandchildren. He was a member and supporter of various organizations, including the Army Otter-Caribou Association, Army Aviation Association of America and the Masonic Lodge Mt. Scott No. 540. Paul was a member of First Baptist Church of Richardson, Richardson, Texas where he enjoyed fellowship with his Bible study class and Thursday morning breakfast group. Loving remembrances can be made to the Disabled American Veterans at https://www.dav.org/CommandersClub/DonorInfo.aspx or (859) 441-7300.