Harold Coleman Slade

1919 - 2013

Harold Coleman Slade, 93, Cynthiana, husband of Dorothy Slade, died Monday, March 25, 2013 at Harrison Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born to Rupert and Jessie Slade on Oct. 1, 1919 on North Main Street in Cynthiana, Ky. Most of his early years were spent in Bourbon County and he started the first grade in Millersburg. Before his first years was over, the family moved back to Cynthiana. He attended the Kehoe one-room school for one year, and the rest of his education was in the Cynthiana Schools and graduated from Cynthiana High in 1937.
He has been a member of Cynthiana Methodist Church since his early years, was a member of Boy Scout Troop 58 and was assistant scout master when he was called into the armed forces in 1941.
He entered the service on April 10, 1941 and was sent to Camp Shelby, Miss. and was assigned to the 149th Infantry of the 38th Division. He trained across many of the southern states and early in 1944 he was very proud of the opportunity to pass through the Panama Canal on his way to the Pacific Theater. He served in Hawaii, New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon of the Philippines Islands. Early in 1945 his 38th Division was the major unit to recapture Bataan of the Philippines. When the war was over, he received his discharge on Nov. 8, 1945 after almost five years of service.
After his days in the service, he attended most of his 149th reunions and has remained in touch with many of his service friends and their families. During the year he collected information about their reunions and news of his friends and sent an annual letter to all each October. At its peak his mailing list totaled 65.
He drove a truck for Standard Oil for 24 years, was employed at Ladish almost 13 years, and over two years at Cleveland Twist Drill, and he retired in 1986. He was a member of the Harrison County Trust and the Harrison County Historical Society.
Harold and Dorothy restored the Abdell Cemetery, the burial site of his great, great, great-grandparents, incorporated the cemetery, served on the board of directors and continued to help maintain the old cemetery all these many years.
He was one of the original directors of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum, often called himself the ""hanger upper,"" and a good day at the museum just made his day. He had a strong interest in family history and created several histories on his and Dorothy's families, was the author of two books, the first was a story of his life and the second was memories of his father-in-law, Ezra Florence. He thought the good old stories of ""Mr. Ezra"" needed to be saved.
After a recent article in the Lexington Herald-Leader by Tom Eblen concerning Harold and the museum in Cynthiana, he received an Outstanding Citizen Award from the Kentucky House of Representatives and was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rupert and Jessie Moreland Slade.
Survivors include: his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Florence Slade; three daughters, Kay (Robbie) Cox, Cynthiana, Betty (Ed) Pariso, North Richland Hills, Texas, and Ann (Phyllis) Slade, Cynthiana; one son, Terry (Dee Ann) Slade, Frankfort; one sister, Mary Lois Brunker, Cynthiana; one niece, Diane (Jim) Wilson, Cynthiana; and one nephew, Jerry (Ann) Brunker, Cynthiana; three grandchildren, Lacye Carmichael, Texas; Justin (Mallory) Carmichael, Texas; and Taylor Slade, Frankfort; and two great-grandchildren, James and Logan Carmichael, Texas.
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 28 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. Mike Coppersmith and Dr. Timothy Teater. The family will receive friends after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will follow the service in Battle Grove Cemetery. Drake-Whaley-McCarty Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers are: Jerry Brunker, Jim Wilson, Kenny Simpson, Randall Boyers, Jim Swinford, Billy Fowler, Jeff Kinney and James Carl Gray.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Abdell Cemetery Fund, 1490 Ammerman Pike, Cynthiana, KY 41031.
www.drakewhaleymccartyfuneralhome.com