Published: November 06, 2009 06:54 pm      

Harold D. Spain

Harold D. Spain, 78, of Danville and formerly of Potomac, died at 5:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at Hawthorne Inn of Danville.

Harold was born Sept. 15, 1931, in Jamesburg, Ill., the son of David and Gladys Shumate Spain. He married Bonnie L. Davis on June 20, 1954, in Danville. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Marilyn (Craig) McArton of Mequon, Wis.; a son, David (Susan) Spain of New Boston, N.H.; three grandchildren, Allison and Katie McArton and Benjamin Spain; a brother, Teddy Spain of Potomac; a sister, June Duncan of Danville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents and a sister, LaVonne Crawford.

Harold graduated from Potomac High School in the Class of 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951–55. Harold had farmed in the Potomac area for over 40 years. In 1980, he retired in from the Chanute Air Force Base Fire Department in Rantoul, where he served as assistant fire chief for 26 years.

He also retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation Highway Division.

He was instrumental in forming the Bluegrass Fire Protection District. He served as fire chief and on the Fire District Board of Trustees.

He also helped start the Middlefork Ambulance service. Harold was a member of the Potomac Church of Christ, lifetime member of Potomac American Legion Post 428 and The “Gung Ho” VFW Post 6750 in Rantoul.

He served on South Ross Drainage District.

He enjoyed photography, playing euchre, crop watching, Taffy the dog and, most of all, his grandchildren, family and friends.

Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Potomac Cemetery. Pastor John Davis will officiate. Per Harold’s wishes, there will be no visitation. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, Harold’s memorials should be to the Bluegrass firemen, Potomac American Legion or Potomac Church of Christ.

Wolfe Funeral Home, 400 N. Vermilion St., Potomac, is coordinating the arrangements.