Kraus

Paula Willmot Kraus, much loved and loving wife, wonderful mother and awesomely hip and nurturing grandmother, who was born on April 5, 1957, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio. A catastrophic stroke and brain hemorrhage suddenly ended her all too brief life.

Paula was a true joy, a gift to the world — to know her was to love her. A talented and award-winning artist, educator and lover of nature, her creativity and energy knew no bounds. Her love showered unreservedly on everyone through her inventive and health-conscious meals (carrot taco, anyone?), her remarkable photography, her willingness to lend a hand to anyone who needed a boost, and to the causes that fueled her vigor: the environment, equality and social justice. Paula and her husband, Fred, also supported and participated in the local and larger arts community, attending all manner of events and hosting house concerts in their home.

Paula found the light of her own life with her family, which was a love affair without bounds. Her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandsons basked in the ever-warm glow that was Paula.

Paula enjoyed all manner of outdoor activities, from hiking to biking, from canoeing to water skiing. Her favorite places in Dayton were the MetroParks and bike trails. She loved a good project, whether it was creating brick and stone walkways, landscaping or simply problem-solving at any level. She was also a competitive athlete in high school, holding several records for swimming. One example of her versatility, as a 12-year-old member of the youth softball team, the Petticoats, she smashed a home run over the fence during the annual Fourth of July All Star Game in Zelienople.

Remarkably, Paula pursued her zest for life despite decades of battles with various health issues, which she overcame without complaint, and with grace and beauty. If a choice came to move forward or to rest and recuperate, Paula invariably chose the more active path. She lived her life as if each day might be her last. After a nine-hour open-heart surgery in 2015, she spurred her recovery process so that she would be able to dance at the wedding of her son, Max, and his wife, Kristin. Paula remarkably made it to their dance floor and danced ever since.

Her passion for her art infused her view of the world, a world she celebrated and rejoiced every day of her life. Her widely exhibited fine art photography emerged as visual poetry — her evocative images allowed and prompted the viewer to contemplate the natural world anew with her guidance, and marvel at how we are all part of the continuum — and then, perhaps, to reflect on his or her own life.

Paula most recently served as gallery coordinator at Rosewood Arts Center in Kettering, Ohio where she recently earned her five-year certificate of service.

Paula began her career as a photojournalist, first with the Chagrin Valley Times near Cleveland, Ohio, and then with the Medina County Gazette in Ohio. After moving to Houston, Texas, with her family, Paula worked as the photography coordinator for Rice University, as well as a freelance photographer for the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle. After moving with her family to Oakwood, Ohio, in 1994, she worked as a freelance photographer at the Dayton Daily News, and then began teaching at the Ohio Institute of Photography in Dayton.

Paula then focused her work on fine art photography, and widely exhibited her work. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums nationally, including the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Fort Wayne Museum, Tiffin University, Antioch College and Eastern Washington University.

Paula’s work can be found in many private collections, as well as in corporate collections. She was awarded two Montgomery County Individual Artist Fellowships (2001 and 1998) and one Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Grant (1998), as well as many other awards. Paula holds a Master of Arts in photography from Antioch University McGregor, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Pennsylvania State University. She also graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and was enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Houston. She was a graduate of Seneca Valley High School. She received a scholarship to spend her senior year studying on a schooner ship that sailed throughout the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Some of her public art is on permanent display at the Dayton Metro Library. Paula’s “Morning Glory” is her largest work, a 4-foot-tall by 96-foot-long black and white photograph photomural, which was inspired by the work of Impressionist Claude Monet’s paintings of water lilies.

Paula’s survivors include her husband, Fred Kraus of Kettering, Ohio; son, Max Kraus and his wife, Kristin, of Oakwood, Ohio, and their two sons, Camden and Carter.

Also surviving are her four brothers, Doug Willmot, of Zelienople; James Willmot of Asheville, N.C., and his two sons, Ian Willmot of Louisville, Ky., his daughter Ava, and Christian Willmot of Charleston, S.C.; David Willmot of Zionsville, Ind., his wife, Maurisa, and their daughter, Robyn, and her husband Rob Peters.; her brother Stephen, and his wife, Cindy, of Sayre, Pa., and their children, Ross, Garrett, Collin, Brenna, Emmett, Annabell and Merryn.

Other survivors include her uncle, David Laird, of Gainesville, Fla.; cousin, Bob, and JoAnn MacDonald of Washington, D.C., and their daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Charlie, and their son, Oscar, of Blue Ash, Ohio; cousin, Cheryl Hughes, and her husband, Patrick Hughes, of Washington, D.C., and their three children; cousin, Tim Willmot, of Falls Church, Va., and his three children; and cousin, Becky, and her family of Seattle, Wash.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, William “Bill” Willmot and Loisann Willmot; her sister, Barbara Harrison; her uncle, Ken Willmot, and his wife, Gerry, and their son, Jeff; her father-in-law, Fred “Fritz” Kraus, and his spouse, Dolores Kraus. Lastly, the family dog, Wallace, a handsome beast who accompanied Paula on innumerable hikes and explorations around Oakwood and beyond, also preceded her.

KRAUS — A visitation for Paula Willmot Kraus, who died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME, 5471 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, Ohio. There will be an informal open mic presentation for memories of Paula at 6 p.m., so please bring your Paula stories to share. Photographs of Paula and a small sampling of photographic images created by Paula will on view.

Online condolences may be sent to www.Tobiasfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.