Paul Stanley

Dr. Paul R. Stanley passed away August 5, 2026. He was 94 years old.
Dr. Stanley was born in Decatur, Illinois to Dr. Dean Field Stanley and Beatrice Wehy Stanley. He attended Dennis Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and graduated from Stephen Decatur High School with the Class of 1950. He went on to Yale University, graduating in 1954. At Yale University, he was a proud member of the Duke’s Men of Yale, an a cappella group. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern Medical School in 1958. He completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital in 1959, followed by a three-year fellowship in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Stanley then joined the U.S Army. As a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he served in the Ryukyu Islands from 1962-1964.

Board certified in Internal Medicine, in 1964 he joined the Stanley Medical Group private practice of Internal Medicine, joining his brother, Dr. Charles O. Stanley, his father, Dr. Dean F. Stanley, and continuing the medical practice founded by his grandfather, Dr. Otis O. Stanley. His great-grandfather Dr. Halstead Applegate preceded them.
Dr. Paul retired from active practice in 2005.

He married Shirley Jahoda in 1974, and together they shared 52 years of a devoted marriage.

Dr. Stanley served as president of the Macon County Medical Society, president of the Decatur Memorial Hospital medical staff, and president of the St. Mary’s medical staff.
He was a member of the American Medical Society, the Illinois Medical Society, the American College of Physicians, a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a member of the Doctors Mayo Society.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Stanley had a lifelong passion and interest in music, playing the piano from the age of six until shortly before his passing. He had a sincere and abiding love for animals, and he cherished his German Shepherds and rescue cats. He was a member of the Country Cub of Decatur, where he ardently pursued the game of golf, enjoying its camaraderie. A curious and enthusiastic traveler, he had visited all seven continents. He supported projects and causes about which he felt deeply with his philanthropy. With a gift for storytelling, he will be remembered for both his humor and his stories.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sister-in-law, Barbara Freehill, brother-in-law, Thomas Freehill, Fremont, California; nephews: William Stanley, Atlanta, Georgia,
Dr. Michael Freehill, San Francisco, California; nieces: Patti (Stanley) Moran, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Sara (Stanley) Reynolds, Seattle, Washington; seven great nieces/nephews and seven great-great nieces/nephews.

Dr. Stanley will be remembered as a devoted healer, a musician, and a true friend.
He leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration to honor and remember Dr. Stanley’s life will be held at a later date.

Memorials: Dr. Paul Stanley Scholarship Fund, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, Il 62522 or Decatur & Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation, P.O. Box 633, Decatur, Il 62525-0633. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.calvertmemorial.com.