Cecil L. Harvey, 94
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Cecil Lee Harvey, 94, of Buxton Hill Road died peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Sweet Brook Care Centers.
Born in Washington, D.C., July 9, 1918, the son of Walter H. and Carrie Garrett Harvey, he played trumpet in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first inaugural parade in 1933. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1939 with an electrical engineering degree.
As an ROTC graduate, he was commissioned into the Army and served honorably during World War II. He was actively involved in the planning and execution of the D-Day invasion, and was one of a very few officers holding a BIGOT security clearance.
Mr. Harvey was employed as a sales engineer by the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams from August 1962 until retiring in 1983. He had previously worked for the Duquesne Light and the Gibson Power companies in Pittsburgh, then for Elliot Co. in Ridgway, Pa.
After retiring, he spent his time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross bloodmobile, driving friends and neighbors to medical appointments, serving as honor guard at military funerals, and sailing off Ocean Point, Maine. He also was a member of First Congregational Church, Richard A. Ruether American Legion Post 152, the Masons and the Shriners. Hee enjoyed attending "Friendly Friday" with friends at the Williams Faculty Club. He walked his Samoyed, Pooka, everywhere and was known around Williamstown as the white-haired man with the white-haired dog.
He would proudly say that another old soldier has faded away.
He leaves his beloved wife of 70 years, the former Elisabeth "Betty" Robinson; two sons, George R. Harvey and his wife, C. Victoria, of Essex and William Lee Harvey of Boothbay, Maine; two grandchildren, Aaron Lee Harvey of Valley Village, Calif., and Abigail Lee Harvey of Portland, Maine, as well as nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A memorial service for Mr. Harvey will he held on Saturday, April 27, at 11 from First Congregational Church of Williamstown, His family cordially invites friends and neighbors to celebrate his life with them.
Arrangements are by Flynn Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, North Adams. Memorial gifts may be made to American Legion Post 152, 117 Latham St., Williamstown, MA 01267.