Harold R. Heller, 95, of Bryan passed away Monday, November 2nd at Fountain Park Villas in Bryan. He was born in Bridgewater Township, Williams County, Ohio on December 16, 1919 to William and Mertie (Frisbie) Heller.
He was the seventh child and is the last survivor of the family of eight children. Harold married Charlotte McVicker of Greenpoint, New York on September 25, 1955 in the Methodist Church in Bryan. Charlotte passed away January 5, 2012 after 57 years of marriage. Harold is survived by three children, Linda (Larry) Lundervold of Grass Valley, California, Michael (Sharon) Heller of Westerville, Ohio, and Christine (Jerry) Englehardt of Allen, Michigan; three grandchildren, Christine Garcia, Cameron Heller and Jessica Carpenter; and one great grandchild, Robert Carpenter. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Charlotte, three sisters, Grace Upton, Ruth Warren and Dorothy Setterington; and four brothers Roy, Gerald, Forest and Paul.
Harold graduated from Kunkle High School in 1937 and then attended Tri-State University in Toledo, Ohio. He entered the service in 1942, serving for over two years at Fort Benning, Georgia at the Army Infantry Training School. Later he joined the 26th Infantry (YD) Division just before the Battle of the Bulge and ended up in Czechoslovakia at wars end. He was discharged December 25, 1946 with the rank of T/Sgt.
Harold and his family have lived in Bryan most of their lives, except for 15 years at the Villages in Ocala, Florida from 1989-2004. He had been active in the Bryan American Legion Post #284 for over 65 years, and was Commander in 1955. He was also a member of the 40 & 8, Voiture #879 and had served as Chef de Gare. Harold was the first County Commander of the American Legion. He joined the Bryan Lodge #1064 of the Loyal Order of the Moose in 1948 and served as Secretary for twenty years. He was awarded the Pilgrim Degree of Merit and was Ohio’s current oldest and longest serving Pilgrim. Harold had held memberships in several other organizations and was a loyal Bryan supporter of community Service.
A joint memorial service for Harold and Charlotte will be held in the spring. Interment will be at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer, Ohio. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Williams County Veterans Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com