William Harold Force, age 94, died April 21, 2014 at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 25, 2014, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Barry Bradley of First Baptist Church in Orange. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home in Orange.
Born February 15, 1920, Harold was one of five children of Henry and Jewell (Goolsby) Force. Harold attended Lutcher Stark High School before enrolling at Sam Houston College in Huntsville, Texas.
Harold left college to work for Livingston Shipbuilding of Orange. He was employed as a pattern maker during the early years of World War II before joining the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Harold served in communications aboard ship in the battles of both Iwo Jima and Okinawa of the Pacific Theater.
Following the war, Harold met and married Marguerite Oncale in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she worked as a registered nurse.
They lived in Orange a short time before moving to West Orange where Harold had built his present home. It was in the pink granite house where Harold and Marguerite raised four children while working for Dupont as an instrument tech. He worked there for thirty-one years before retiring at the age of fifty-eight.
Harold enjoyed fishing, gardening, and camping with Marguerite for many years during retirement. Active his entire life, Harold’s many projects continued to give him reasons to get up each morning.
Harold attended the First Baptist Church of Orange.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marguerite of sixty-four years; grandson Leif Hansen; and four siblings.
He is survived by his children, Gayle Culp and husband Pat of Orange, Hal Force and wife Jodee of Alaska, Anita Hansen and husband Reidar of Denver, Colorado, Paul Force of Alaska; grandchildren Erika Mouser, Amy Force-Garrett, Jacob Force, Zachary Force; and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southeast Texas Hospice, P.O. Box 2385, Orange, Texas 77631-2385.
Condolences
Claybar Funeral Home
April 25, 2014
Claybar Funeral Homes created a Tribute Video in memory of William Harold Force
Wayne And Debbie
April 24, 2014
May the Lord comfort and bless you all. Our sincerest condolences on the death of your dear dad.
Randolph Knipp
April 23, 2014
Harold and I worked together at "The Plant", and more recently interacted in the "Du Pont Alumni Club". First and foremost, Harold was a gentleman, but he also was a wonderful co-worker and a leader who will be remembered. I am saddened by his death, and trust memories such as those I have will sustain his family and friends during this time of adjustment to his loss.