Harold E. Summers

Born 2/16/1932, the third of nine children to Robert Lonzo & Ethel May Summers, of Kansas City, Kansas.

As a young man, he loved aviation, wanted to fly and desired to see the world. At age 18, he joined the United States Navy and traveled to many exotic countries and ports of call throughout Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa.

While in Japan, he met and married, Yoneko, his bride of 57 years. After serving in two wars with a total of over 21 years of stellar service to his country, he transferred to the Fleet Reserve and eventually retired from the service in San Diego, California.

After leaving the Navy, he worked as a maintenance man at the San Diego Zoo constructing animal enclosures; as a metal worker building DC-10 airliners; as a licensed Airframes and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic and private pilot with multi-engine and helicopter endorsements; eventually earning a second retirement as a civil service warehouseman.

Not one for being idle, he volunteered for several years with the San Diego Police and Transportation Departments as a Disabled-Parking Enforcement Team (D-PET) supervisor, until finally deciding to slow down and relax due to medical reasons.

He leaves behind three brothers, two sisters, a loving wife, two adoring sons and their wives, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

He recently stated that he had “lived a full and long life”. It was certainly full, but not nearly as long as we would have liked.

We all love and miss you, our Otosan, our Papa, and our Grandpa.