DAVIDSVILLE, Pa. — Harold E. “Hal” Grant was a truly remarkable man. He died Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, at age 95 in Davidsville, Pa., with his loving daughter by his side.

Hal was born in Farmington on July 21, 1922, the son of Ira and Theodosia Grant. He joined the National Guard at the age of 16, and the U.S. Army when war with Germany appeared inevitable. After a remarkable career in the Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force, he retired from the Air Force, having served 37 years on active duty.

He was a B-17 pilot during World War II, with more than 50 combat missions over Germany and Romania. He participated in the bombing of the Ploiesti oil fields during the most deadly and costly attacks of the war. Hal held several commands during his career, including squadron commander and base commander on three occasions. While serving at the Pentagon in officer personnel, he wrote himself a set of orders to Vietnam, serving in and around Da Nang and Saigon in 1964 and 1965.

Hal had a very unusual entrepreneurial bent, and owned a brokerage firm while on active duty. After retirement from the U.S. Air Force, he ran a hotel in Greece and then went to work for Bechtel, Pacific Architects & Engineers and McDonnell Douglas, constructing and maintaining military installations for the Saudi government.

When he ultimately retired, he spent his time traveling between his summer home in Virginia Beach, Va., and his winter home in Fort Myers, Fla. But, most important, he served as a role model and dear friend to so many.

“The Colonel” was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Avis R. Grant; his best friend, Bertie Beitman; his sister, Maxine Dube; and his grandson, Matthew Moon.

Hal is survived by his sisters: Mrs. Janet Diaz and Mrs. Pauline Duguay; his eldest son, Rear Adm. Rick Grant, JAGC, USN (Ret.) (wife, Katherine Grant); and by his daughter, Debra Moon (husband, Dale Moon); and by the youngest of the three siblings, CW5 (USA Ret.) Stephen Grant Sr. (wife, Elizabeth Grant). He is also survived by a large cast of family members: grandchildren Michele Lamkin (husband, Robert Lamkin Jr.), Eric W. Grant (wife, Sara Grant), Stephen Grant Jr. (wife, Tiffany Grant) and Anneliese Grant; great-grandchildren Kennedy E. Moon, James Lamkin, Hannah Lamkin, Hunter Grant, Anna Katherine Grant, Ashley Grant, Luke Grant and Amelie Grant.

To express condolences, make a donation or light a candle, visit HoffmanFuneralHomes.com.

Harold E. “Hal” Grant