Harold G. Hayes

Harold was born on Sept 3, 1930 in Basile, LA to Irving V. Hayes and Mary Louise Aquillard. The third of five children he was raised on a rice farm near Fenton, and graduated from Fenton high School. He attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute where he received a degree in Agriculture Engineering in 1952. He went from college to the U.S. Air Force and served as a bombardier on B-29’s in Japan. Upon his return he was placed in the Strategic Air Command and sent to B-52 Navigators School. After Navigator School he became a radar operator and spent many years at Castle AFB in EA as an instructor in B-52 navigations and radar operations. He attended Squadron Offices School in Alabama and later the Air Command at Staff College in Norfolk, VA. He was then sent to Vietnam and placed in the field of intelligence where he received the Bronze Star. After Vietnam he was sent to Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ and eventually became commander of the 355th Field Maintenance Squadron. He retired from the Air Force in 1972 with the rank of Lt. Colonel and returned to his beloved Southwestern LA. He went on to work at LA Savings and Loan and stayed for 10 years becoming Senior Vice President in charge of the loan department. He later worked for Flavin Reality and enjoyed his time there very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers; E.W. Hayes, Irving Hayes Jr., and David Lee Hayes all of the Fenton area. He is survived by his wife Polly and one sister, Ruth Ellen Marsh of Iowa, LA. Harold loved to garden and to grow flowering shrubs, chili peppers, and citrus. He was an avid reader. He was a genealogist, belonging to several societies in the state.

Burial will be under the direction of Hixson Funeral Home, Lake Charles, with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery in Welsh, LA. Visitation will be Monday at 11am until the service at 1pm. In lieu of flowers or donations can be made through charity of choice. Words of comfort may be expressed with the family at hixsonfuneralhomes.com.

The family of Mr. Harold would like to show their appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Van Snider and his staff, Dr. Sylvia Boyer, Resthaven Nursing Facility and its entire staff, the team from Odyssey Hospice and Father Nathan Long.