Harold Newman Loiselle of Cedar Creek, Texas, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021 in Austin, Texas at St. David's South Austin Medical Center at the age of 83.
Harold was born January 1, 1938 in Island Falls, Maine and was the youngest child of Henry Loiselle and Beatrice Loiselle (nee Grant). In 1941 the family moved from Maine to Keene, New Hampshire. Harold grew up in Keene and attended Keene High School before joining the United States Air Force in 1955.
After graduating from U.S. Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia and earning his parachutist's wings, he spent time at various duty stations around the world before being posted to Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks, Alaska in 1965. It was there in Alaska he had the good fortune to meet a young teacher named Stormye Atkinson. The couple married in 1966 and moved to New York when Harold was posted to Watertown Air Force Station in 1967.
In 1968 Harold left the Air Force after 13 years of service and shortly thereafter joined the United States Navy and became a member of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, also known as the "Fighting Seabees." He served in Vietnam where the "Can Do" attitude of the Seabees earned his unit the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon and Harold earned the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Harold attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer and after several other successful deployments with the Seabees and 9 years of service in the United States Navy, he retired with 22 years of combined service in the United States Armed Forces.
Upon retiring from the Navy, Harold and his wife and two sons moved from Oxnard, California and relocated to Boston, Massachusetts where he attended Northeastern University, earning his baccalaureate degree and graduating with honors in 1981. In the summer of 1981 Harold again moved his family, this time to the central Texas area, settling among the beautiful "Lost Pines" of Bastrop, Texas in 1984 where Harold was a member of the Bastrop Church of Christ, coached Little League baseball, and volunteered his time with various local causes and charities.
Harold was preceded in death by his father Henry, his sister Louise Navish, his brother Eldon Loiselle, and his mother Beatrice Burden. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years Stormye, his sons Paul and James, and his grandchildren Thomas, McKenzie, Ann Elizabeth, and Lillian.
Harold will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Friday, February 5th, 2021 at 2:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to charities dedicated to serving veterans or those dedicated to helping cancer patients and conducting cancer research. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Loiselle family.
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