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F. Wynne Paris | Genealogist, 91

F. Wynne Paris, 91, formerly of West Chester, a genealogist and seventh-generation Philadelphian, died of kidney failure Dec. 4 at Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne, Fla.

Mr. Paris grew up in Center City and attended William Penn Charter School and Episcopal Academy. He earned a bachelor's degree from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. He met his future wife, Grace Gale, when they were both attending the French language immersion summer program at Middlebury College in Vermont.

After working as a sales executive for U.S. Steel for 20 years, Mr. Paris retired to a life of travel. He and his wife lived in Florence and Switzerland for 10 years and spent time in New Concord, N.H., where Mr. Paris was in the real estate business; and in Boston, Mass., where he was a disc jockey for a radio station - he collected classic jazz recordings. The couple moved to Florida in the early 1990s.

Mr. Paris was a descendant of Thomas Wynne, William Penn's physician and an original Quaker settler in Pennsylvania in 1682. He was a member of several historical societies, including the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of Colonial Wars. He assisted other members in researching their family records, his wife said, and eventually became a professional genealogist.

In addition to his wife of 72 years, Mr. Paris is survived by sons William F. and John; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were private.