Harold Wayne Price, a lifetime resident of Plymouth, living at 11821 7B Road since 1960, became ill at home and died suddenly of natural causes in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth, at 6:40 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2007. He was 86 years old.
Harold was born in Plymouth on February 21, 1920, the son of Walter E. and Irene V. Trease Price. Following the death of his mother at the age of two, he was raised by his step-mother Iris Jacoby Price.
He was a graduate of Plymouth’s Lincoln High School, class of 1938
Harold served in World War II, with the Pacific Headquarters of the Air Transport Command, Division of the Air Force. He was active duty from Jan. 1943 – Feb. 1946 as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Hickam Field, next to Pearl Harbor.
On August 30, 1941, Harold and Regina E. Emenaker were married in Plymouth. Regina died on September 23, 1999. In their 58 years together, the couple were happily married and vastly supportive of one another. Harold worked for Ball Band in Mishawaka and Studebaker of South Bend. He was manager of the Walter Price Abattoir for many years and was known for his honesty and reserved manner of providing customer service. He was a member of the American Legion Post 27 and a member of the Indiana Meat Packers Association who had served on the Board of Directors.
Always a proud father and grandfather, he was never happier than when the family was together having fun.
Harold is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James W. and Sue Price of Argos, and by their children: granddaughters, Angela A. and Kristen M. Price, Plymouth: Ronda D. Leffert, Sunbury, Pennsylvania: Melinda J. and John Erdley, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and their children, Heather Leffert and Troy Erdley. Also surviving is his daughter and son-in-law and their families, Jean A. and Dean Lemler, Bluffton, Indiana. Their children are grandsons: David W. and Suzanne Lemler, Indianapolis, Indiana: Jeffery D. and Jamie Lemler, Bluffton, Indiana: Kevin R. and Tracy Lemler with children: Courtney, Kirtlynn and Samantha Lemler all of Liberty Center, Indiana: and Mark E. and Maria Lemler, Uniondale, Indiana.
Numerous nieces and nephews survive as well, together with a brother-in-law, Dr. John Bottorff, Sr. Plymouth, and Maxine Myers, a sister-in-law, also of Plymouth.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Harold Price with his family on Thursday, January 11, 2007, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Visitation will continue after 7 a.m. on Friday until time of services, with the family present one hour prior to the service.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2007, in the funeral home. The Rev. Charles Krieg, pastor of the Salem United Methodist Church, Bremen, will officiate.
Interment will be in New Oakhill Cemetery,Plymouth where military honors will be accorded him by members of the American Legion Post 27.
Memorial gifts in memory of Harold may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic School.