Harold Harvey Siler

Harold Harvey Siler was born June 15, 1930 in Denver, Colorado. After making his way to California as a youngster, Harvey as he was known by most ("Harv" if he really liked you), attended San Pedro High School.

In 1947 he enrolled in the U.S. Army at just 17 years of age and was first stationed at San Pedro's own Fort MacArthur. While at Fort MacArthur Harv would often sneak home to check on his beloved mother Ruth, only to be back in his Army bunk before sunrise. He served in the South Pacific and was stationed on Guam.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Harv came back to the South Bay area and quickly gained a stellar reputation for building some of So Cal's top hot rods alongside contemporaries including Von Dutch, George Barris, Big Daddy Ed Roth, and others. Simply put, going fast was in his DNA.

Custom cars and motorcycles were a lifelong passion and Harv was most at home tinkering in the garage (most likely with a Bud Light in hand) at a car show, or "heading back to Indy" on his annual trek to take in the Indianapolis 500 trackside with his pals.

While in his twenties, Harv met and married Pauline Hashe and started a family that grew to three children: Paula, Burt and Hugh. Harv and Pauline were married 26 years.

Following a nearly 30 year career where he worked his way up the ladder in the General Services Department for the City of Newport Beach, Harv retired in the early 1990s. It was while working at the City of Newport Beach that Harv met and married Wilma "Willie" Roquet, his beloved wife and partner of more than 45 years.

Known for his sharp wit and keen sense of humor, Harv took great pride in his attention to detail, meticulous workmanship, and his blunt, no-nonsense approach. Harv cherished his family- both two footed and four footed ones.

He is survived by Wilma, his three children and a grandson, Jason.

In lieu of flowers, Harv would be most proud if you did something nice for someone else, rescued a dog (he had too many to count over the years), washed and polished your car, and/or hoisted a beloved Budweiser in his memory while sharing a laugh with friends about the good old days.