A Life Lived: Harold Carver was always at his wife’s side

Published 1:04 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Harold N. Carver was a devoted husband to his wife, Jo Ann, as long as she lived. In her latter years he was always by her side when they went out. Jo Ann died three years ago. She and Harold had been married 48 years at the time of her death.

Harold died August 14 at the age of 92. He had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was retired from Sperry Corp.

I remember Harold as a kind man, who always accompanied Jo Ann to the Volunteer Sunday School Class cooking day at First Free Will Baptist Church. The class usually cooked a meal the second Monday of each month and delivered it to shut-ins, the elderly who lived alone, and others.

Harold and Jo Ann usually came early with a couple of other ladies and Jo Ann’s brother, Jim Bishop, who has since passed. They usually had breakfast, Jim read the paper, and they discussed the current events of the day. Other members of the class came later with their dessert and they helped with the final preparations of the meal. Once it was put into containers, Harold and Jim bagged the meals. Also, Harold and Jo Ann would help deliver the meals before heading home in mid-afternoon.

Harold always accompanied Jo Ann to class events as well as Adult Activities at the church and often attended church with her on Sunday night or when there was a special event at the church such as homecoming, Christmas cantata, etc.

Harold was a member of Watauga Point United Methodist Church and was faithful in his attendance there. And, Jo Ann would often attend church with Harold on special occasions.

After Harold’s retirement, he could be found at Jo Ann’s side especially when her health began to fail her. The two often went on trips with the Adult Activity group — plays at the Lamplight Theater, shopping in Pigeon Forge, and trips to Myrtle Beach.

A friend of the couple, Patti White, said, “I never heard him say an unkind word to anyone or about anyone. He was Jo Ann’s protector. He never left her side when we went on a church trip. He never let her go anywhere alone. He was very kind to her and often would hold her by the arm or hand.

“Whatever she wanted to do, that’s what they did,” said Patti.

Both had been married previously and had children. But when they married, her family became his and his family hers.

Jo Ann enjoyed cooking and was a good cook. As long as she was able Jo Ann cooked Sunday dinner for the family and extended family, too. She often began it on Saturday and completed it on Sunday. Harold usually did the running, often to the store at least twice for something she needed, he once said.

Harold was a soft-spoken man, who enjoyed watching the Lady Vols play on TV. He loved gospel music and his favorite hymn was “Til the Storm Passes By.”

Jo Ann enjoyed shopping, so, guess what? Harold did, too.

He enjoyed a good cup of coffee, watching the birds, squirrels and rabbits in his backyard, and westerns on TV.

A friend wrote on the funeral home tribute page: “Harold was always wishing he could just go to sleep and not wake up. He got his wish. He went to sleep and woke up in Heaven.”

His stepson noted in a memorial tribute that Harold was unhappy without Mom and grieved for her.

No more. Harold is now with Jo Ann, and the storm has passed for him, and now he is “where the storms never darken the skies.”