Born to Alfred and Adella Peoppelman Hoying in St. Marys, OH the fifth of six children, he was raised on a dairy farm in St. Patricks, OH.   

Paul received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton and subsequently earned a CPA. He worked at Touche Ross in OH where he formed friendships maintained over the next 40 years. Paul furthered his education by earning a law degree from Ohio State University College of Law and passed the bar in 1984. With the encouragement of his best friend Rick Knuth, with whom he attended law school, Paul relocated to Charlotte where he taught accounting at Queens University and started his own accounting practice. While teaching and running his practice, he earned his MBA from Queens University. 

During youth, Paul’s experience working on a dairy farm taught him the value of hard work, organizational skills and teamwork which complemented his lifelong passion for education. In addition to teaching at Queens, he also taught at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte and retired from teaching as the Chair of the Accounting Department at Belmont Abbey College in 2021. While teaching, Paul maintained a high quality of service for his accounting practice clients that exceeded 35 years. 

Paul enjoyed watching the UD Flyers, Buckeye’s and Carolina Panthers and tailgating with Charlotte friends for over 20 years. While Paul had a strong affinity to sports, his favorite pastime, when he wasn’t traveling with Leslie, was spending time at their Lake Wylie home, boating, listening to music and watching the sunset.

Paul’s sense of humor, infectious laugh, empathetic listening, optimism and his ability to command the dance floor was loved and appreciated by all who crossed his path. He will be missed mostly for his kindness and enormous heart.