Harold Alvis Wilson
It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Harold Alvis Wilson, on December 20, 2021, he was 85. Harold was born at home on March 3rd, 1936 in Cucamonga, Ca. to parents Leo Lawrence Wilson & Juanita Wilson.
At the age of 2 Harold and his family moved to Porterville. His father worked for Tharp’s Trucking and his mother worked in the packing sheds. Harold attended kindergarten at Olive St. School, Saint Anne’s 1st - 8th grades and Porterville Union High School where he excelled in Baseball, Basketball and Football. He enjoyed talking about swimming in the high school meets on the days they did not have a baseball game. He graduated from high school in 1955 and was Senior Class President. He attended Porterville College and then served in the US Army stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. and Fort Ord, Ca.
He had many great stories of growing up and swimming at the Old Green Mill Plunge, going to dances in Calif. Hot Springs, working at the Porter Theater and letting his buddies in the side door, racing cars, spending time in the pits at the Southern Cal racetracks and being a teenager in the 50’s.
After he returned to Porterville, he married the love of his life Janette “Diane” Milosovich on June 4, 1960. Harold then sold cars for G & W Chevrolet and Life Insurance for New Your Life before becoming an agent for Allstate Insurance in 1964 where he retired in 2020.
Harold was a member of the Porterville Jaycees, the Porterville Masonic Lodge, the Porterville College Buccaneer Club and the Porterville Breakfast Lions. Harold loved to hunt and fish. He played many years of fast pitch softball, city league basketball and bowled. He enjoyed traveling, spending time at the central coast, coaching his children’s ball teams and watching them play through high school. You always knew when Harold stopped by a Monache Football practice you could smell his cigar, many times before you knew he was there. Harold love buying, selling and trading cars. He enjoyed watching his grand children grow up and attended as many of their games as he could fit in. He was a great husband, dad, grandpa and friend.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents Leo & Juanita and his daughter Paige Wilson Dearden.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Diane of Porterville, son Devin Wilson (Debbie) of Porterville, Son in Law Chris Dearden of Napa, his brother Leo Allen Wilson (Laura) of Fresno, sister Shirley Molineux (Leslie) of Lakewood. Grand Children Hailey and Garrett Wilson, Samuel and Addie Dearden.
Harold will be greatly missed and never forgotten by the many people whose lives he impacted. He had a big smile, a big heart and was always there to help others. We will miss him but are joyous to knowing he is with Paige and they both will keep watch over all of us.
There will be a small gathering of family and friends at date to be determined later.