CHRISTIAN, Harold Roy

Harold was born on November 16, 1917, in Richmond, Contra Costa County, Calif., and entered into rest July 5, 2010. His parents were Herman Boyd and Ida Ruth (Fallon) Christian. His mother Ida Ruth Fallon was the daughter of Thomas J. Fallon and Hannah J. Clancy, early California pioneers to the San Pablo area. Harold spent his early years in Richmond and Oakland and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Oakland in 1936. After graduation he worked for an experimental company that was designing electric welding machines. These machines were later used for welding on the liberty ships being built for the war. During this time his father bought property in Grass Valley for a retirement home and they later moved there. In 1940, Harold volunteered for the Army and trained at camp McQuade, Calif., serving in the Ordinance Division. Harold got the idea he wanted to be a pilot and transferred into the Air Force. He was sent to Southern California for training but motion sickness washed him out. He was sent to the Air Force Base at La Junta, Colo., and was assigned to the Ordinance Division. He trained in automotive repairs and in 1945 was sent to Hickham Field in Hawaii until the end of the war. After the war he returned to Grass Valley and started a small automotive repair business but things were too slow. He then moved to Sacramento and went to work for the Sacramento Signal Depot until they had a cut back. He then worked for a private company that had U.S. Government contracts servicing industrial trucks. When the company contracts ran out, Harold and a partner started their own business, which they called Sacramento Lift Truck. Their work was servicing industrial trucks and hydraulic equipment for the U.S. Government, State of California, Pacific Bell Company and private businesses. Harold's hobbies were hunting, fishing, bowling and ball room dancing, but golf was his favorite pastime and belonging to several golf groups. He was a member of the Carmichael Elks #2103, SIR #102, Sacramento Lift Truck Bowling Team, Past President of Shiners Dance Club and Past President of the Donner Lake Property Owners Association.

Harold is survived by Elva, his wife of 60 years, and nephews Robert and David Christian of Oregon. He was preceded in death by his brothers Herman Boyd Jr. and William Hardin and sister Ruth.

There will be a grave side service on Monday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Rough and Ready Hwy, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Arrangements entrusted to HOOPER & WEAVER MORTUARY.