BELLVILLE – Three words often come to mind when people think of Paul Yarman: strength, perseverance and faith. His philosophy of life adopted by Gandhi was, “My life is my message.” Paul Yarman knew that a man of faith “lives by what he believes and believes the way he lives.” A man of great strength, perseverance and love left this earthly home early Friday morning, Dec. 18, 2020.
Paul was on born June 7, 1943, in Amity to the late Herbert W. and Ruth A.(Brechler) Yarman. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1961.
On May 14, 1966, he married Barbara (Hively) Yarman, who passed away on Aug. 28, 2000.
A U.S. Army veteran, Paul served two years (1968–69) in Vietnam and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.
Paul began working at PPG in Mount Vernon after high school, but he spent most of his career driving trucks for Consolidated Freightways before retiring from Yellow Roadway, doing mostly local hauls.
A lifelong area resident, Paul was a longtime member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, where he was a lay leader from 1984 until 2012 and served on every church board and committee. Paul was very active as a member of their outreach program and in the church choir.
It was at church that Paul found a friend and companion in Ann Earle, whom he married on April 5, 2003. A constant at his side, Ann tenderly cared for Paul, especially after a debilitating brain hemorrhage in April of 2012. Again, determined and strong, Paul beat the odds and persevered.
Paul had the strength of an ox. He loved lifting weights and won several national titles as an amateur competing in Olympic-style weightlifting. Paul served as the Clear Fork High School strength coach from 1986 to 2003 and was honored by being named the Ohio Weightlifting Coach of the Year in 2000, having the Clear Fork weight room dedicated in his honor in 2006 and ultimately renamed the Paul Yarman Strength and Conditioning Complex in 2012. Clear Fork also held the annual Paul Yarman Weightlifting Meet from 2010 to 2012.
Paul coached countless athletes and kept the gym open round the clock for their use. For him, coaching wasn’t just about teaching the proper techniques for weightlifting. To Paul, coaching was about teaching discipline, motivation and life skills — always giving your best no matter the circumstances. He was inducted into the Clear Fork Valley Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016, and in November 2020 he was inducted into the Ohio Weightlifting Association Hall of Fame for both coaching and lifting.
Paul loved fast cars and loud engines and was particularly proud of his 1977 Corvette, on which he spent two years in his retirement performing the restoration/modification. He kept his passion alive attending car shows. He was obsessed with sports, particularly Clear Fork football and the OSU Buckeyes.
Paul delighted in his family, especially his grandchildren of whom he was so proud.
He is survived by his wife and dedicated caregiver, Ann Yarman of Bellville; and beloved daughter and son-in-law, Tami and Dr. Michael Swiatek of Bellville, and their children. He is also survived by a brother, Ron (Rita) Yarman of Apple Valley; sister, Eva Yarman of Amity; sister-in-law, Patty (Dewey) Bandy of Mount Vernon; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dee (Dave) Dill of Bellville, Junior (Trudy) Hively of Mansfield, Steve (Norma) Earle of Goshen, Indiana, Tim (Carol) Earle of LaCrosse, Indiana, and Tom (Monica) Earle of Kouts, Indiana.
Paul was greeted in heaven by his son, Troy Bryant Yarman and his wife, Barbara Yarman. Also preceding him in death were his parents, Wayne and Ruth Yarman; and two brothers, Steven and Miles Yarman.
Memorial donations may be made to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church or the Clear Fork Foundation, which provides scholarships to students in the Valley that Paul so dearly loved.
Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 23, at Storyside Church. A memorial service in honor of Paul’s strength, perseverance and faith will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, at the church. Pastor Donna Mills and Pastor Patrick Bailey will perform the service. A graveside service with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 535 will follow in Bellville Cemetery.
Friends and family unable to attend in person can watch the service livestreamed on the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home Facebook page.
