Harold E. Hubbard

Published 4:39 pm Thursday, December 26, 2019

Harold E. Hubbard, 94, of Elizabethton, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2019. The nightmares of 1944 never to bother him again. Harold was born in Helen, Ga., in 1925, the son of the late E.B. and Mary Stamey Hubbard. The family moved to Elizabethton when Harold was at a very young age. He attended Elizabethton High School and Oak Street Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and sang in the choir.
In 1944 he answered the call of our country and went into the U.S. Army. The kid that had hardly been out of Elizabethton, soon found himself in Northern Italy, serving with the 91st division. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Purple Heart when he stepped on a land mine in a heavily defended German kill zone. The events of Italy stayed with him for the rest of his life, often returning just as vivid, just as real. Maybe now, God will grant him peace.
Harold married Virginia Murray in 1949 and they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary in April of 2020. He worked as a contracts administrator for the Raytheon Company for over 30 years until his retirement. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, assuming many leadership roles. He proudly served in the military honor guard and performed hundreds of military funerals honoring our veterans.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and two sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Sherry Hubbard and Michael and Rhonda Hubbard. He leaves four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, December 28, at 1 p.m. at Happy Valley Memorial Park with Pastor Gary Roe and Pastor Tim Mindemann officiating. Pallbearers will be Steve Hubbard, Mike Hubbard, Jake Hubbard, Tee Blevins, Jarrod Ellis and Matthew Sefcik. In lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to the Carter County Honor Guard, 423-895-3819, or to the Woundedwarriorproject.org. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. As a school project his granddaughter Katie had to interview him. One of her questions were “What do you want your obituary to say?” He thought for a moment and replied “Harold died last night.” I’m sorry Dad, I went a little long. I hope you won’t mind. Family and friends will assemble at the cemetery at 12:50 p.m. Saturday. Condolences may be sent to the family on our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Hubbard family.