ODESSA — Kenneth P. Harbold, 83, of Odessa passed away in the loving arms of his wife Monday, March 15, 2004, in Hospice House after a lengthy illness. The angels of Heaven rejoiced at his homecoming.
Military graveside services will be presented by the VFW at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Gale Wilson officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Gober, Richard Turner, Buddy Hawkins, Bill Ingram, Stanley McCallum, Travis McCrary, Glen Ford, Harold Bauer and Val Wilcox.
He was born June 19, 1920, to Paul G. and Emma M. Harbold in Shiremanstown, Pa. He was a Baptist and received his education at MHS in Mechanicsburg, Pa. After graduation, he was a heavy equipment supervisor at Middletown Army Depot in Pennsylvania. On March 24, 1940, he married his high school sweetheart, Ivy L. Raudabaugh, in Winchester, Va., with the Rev. Womeldorf performing the ceremony. On June 2, 1943, he was called to serve his country and received his basic training at Fort Belvoir, Va., and then was transferred to Camp Clayborne, La. He was assigned as a Mechanic foreman with the 3rd Army Division 1092 Engineer Utility Detachment and received his Staff Sergeant stripes on April 7, 1944. Shortly after that, he was sent to the European Theatre to serve under General George Patton. His captain was the former A.C. Bassett of Odessa whom he shared many stories with. Kenneth was honorably discharged on January 17, 1946, with a good conduct medal, ETO medal, service medal and victory medal.
Kenneth and Ivy moved to Odessa later that year where he worked as a construction foreman for A.C. Bassett home builders. In 1959, Kenneth and Ivy were blessed with a son, Douglas. Kenneth eventually went in to business for himself and started KPH Home Builders. He was also FHA inspector for several years for Ector, Crane and Winkler counties until his retirement in 1992. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.
Kenneth is survived by his wife of 64, years, Ivy Harbold of Odessa; his son, Douglas Harbold of Odessa; brother-in-law, W.E. Bill Raudabaugh of Arley, Ala.; several cousins, one being a retired county judge, Harold Sheely of Cumberland Co., Pa.
The family would like to extend their appreciation and thanks to Dr. Joel Adams, Nurse Rhonda Thompson, ICU nurses at Medical Center Hospital, Odyssey Health Care staff and the nurses and staff at Hospice House.
Services entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.