Harold Newton Nesbitt Sr.

Service: Noon, Wednesday at Moore Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Moore Memorial Gardens. Visitation: The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the charity of the giver's choice.

Harold Newton Nesbitt Sr. was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Riverside Addition of Fort Worth, the first born son of Guy Newton Nesbitt and Lola May Totten Nesbitt. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Cmdr. James David Nesbitt, USN; his wife of 67 years, Irene James Nesbitt; and their oldest son, Harold "Hal" Newton Nesbitt Jr.

He graduated in the first graduating class from Riverside High School. He graduated from North Texas Agricultural College, now UTA, with an associate of science degree in industrial aeronautical engineering. He was appointed a cadet captain in the College Corps of Cadets.

He spent a lifetime in parallel civilian and military careers.

He received a private pilot's license and an aircraft and engine mechanic license.

After graduating from NTAC in June 1940, he was hired as an instructor in the National Defense Vocational Training Program conducted by the college.

By this time World War II was intensifying, he was single with a draft deferment, draftees were being assigned to the Army Infantry, and volunteers were being accepted by all branches of the military. The search began for a military unit to which he could volunteer enlistment. He had already investigated flight training and found that he could not pass the physical for either the Navy or Air Force.

Events happened rapidly in late 1942 and early 1943. He left the vocational training program in March 1942 and was hired by Convair, now Lockheed Martin.

He enlisted in the Navy in November, 1942 as an aviation machinist mate second class (AMM2C) and was stationed at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Assembly and Repair Facility.

In January 1943, he returned to Fort Worth on a week's leave and married Irene James. They returned to Corpus Christi and set up housekeeping.

In April 1943, he was promoted to AMM1C and the following July was appointed an ensign US Naval Reserve aviation specialist. His duty assignment was Assistant Superintendent Structures Division Assembly and Repair at Corpus Christi. In February 1946 after a month duty at Naval Test Station Philadelphia he was released from active duty and he and Irene returned to Fort Worth.

They bought a house, set up housekeeping, and started to raise a family. He was hired back by General Dynamics and spent 15 years at the Fort Worth plant from which he retired. He was then hired by Vought Aircraft, now Triumph Aerostructures, and was assigned duty at LTV Missile and Space Division, now Lockheed Martin. He retired after 26 years at the Grand Prairie facility ending his civilian career.

His release from active duty did not end his military career. Shortly after returning to Fort Worth, he requested assignment to one of the newly formed Ready Reserve Units at the Naval Air Station Dallas. This required his attending drills one weekend each month and performing Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) two weeks each year. He was the aircraft maintenance officer of several different squadrons as the type of aircraft and missions changed. In March 1970 he was transferred to the Retired Reserve having spent 27 years, 7 months and 26 days in his naval career. He was retired at the rank of commander and was the commanding officer of a Naval Weapons Training Unit (WETU) at Naval Air Station Dallas. This ended his naval career.

Survivors: Daughter-in-law, Cheryl Nesbitt; daughter, Deborah "Sissy" Purdy and husband, Rick; sons, Roddy Nesbitt and wife, Linda, Gary Nesbitt and wife, Brenda; grandchildren, Clint Nesbitt, Melissa Barngrover, Megan Nichols, Ricky Purdy, Jennifer Purdy, J.D. Nesbitt, Brian Nesbitt, Loran Casillas, Lindsey Dowdy and Erin Zajac; and 13 great-grandchildren.