Harold Boles

It has been a long time since the day Harold and Georgia first met. Harold’s brother Rusty brought Harold along to see Nick, Georgia’s brother. Georgia would often describe the first moment she met Harold. She would say “Out of the vehicle stepped a tall, handsome man fully dressed in his Army uniform.” They spent a short while getting to know each other. Years later, proud of the family they had created she always spoke of that day saying she knew in that moment that she’d met the man she would marry.

Harold loved Georgia more deeply than any fairytale or any Hollywood love story one could imagine. Both grew up in the High Point and Thomasville areas. Harold’s father died when he was just 13. In 1969, the war in Vietnam beckoned his service. Harold was drafted to the Army where he excelled. Stateside, he became a paratrooper as a member of the 82nd Airborne. He was transferred to the 173rd when deployed to Vietnam. Harold was a radioman and orienteer, a very important but deadly position to hold. At some point during his service, a General visited his location to go over operations with several superior officers. When those superiors were unable to provide the General with the information he was seeking, Harold spoke up and did so in such an impressive manner that the General asked if Harold would spend his remaining time in Vietnam as his driver. Harold accepted.

Georgia and Harold wrote to each other throughout his years in Vietnam. The passion and promise of joy within those letters can only be penned by true love. Upon returning home they were engaged and married. Harold volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol. He went on to earn a Civil Engineering degree from AB Tech. Harold was hired by the North Carolina Department of Transportation where he worked for 35 years. Harold and Georgia spent time in Charlotte and Sanford before finally settling in Midland, NC. Harold worked very hard to provide for his bride and later for the children he loved so deeply. Throughout the years, Harold rose in rank within the NCDOT. Before retiring he served as supervisor in District 1 of Division 8 in Asheboro overseeing the planning and design of much of central Piedmont’s roadways and bridges. The only days he missed work was a yearly vacation to celebrate his marriage to Georgia.

Harold adored Georgia deeply and infinitely. He loved to surprise her with flowers and dresses. He made sure she always drove a new car. Their last years together on Earth were spent in the home they designed together. For Harold, these possessions were not for status. Instead, they served as proof that he would do anything and everything to provide the life for his bride which he believed she deserved. When Georgia became ill with Alzheimer's, Harold utilized his stored vacation and PTO days to stay home and take care of her. He had saved several years worth of time-off hoping he and Georgia might travel the world. He never could have imagined needing it for that reason. Instead of retirement abroad with the love of his life, he spent his days by Georgia’s side as the disease within her stole away the memories they had worked so hard to create.  Lying next to her he comforted her as she passed. Harold then volunteered with Hospice, hoping to serve those that had helped him as Georgia passed. He volunteered with the VFW and several churches he attended. Harold considered moving to the beach but never did.

He visited Georgia’s grave every day after her passing. He made sure fresh flowers remained by her plaque. Every woman who later entered his life would visit that grave with him and hear their love story. His love and devotion to Georgia defined him. His integrity, honor, and sense of duty shown in everything he did. He faced challenges head-on which was no match for his will and determination. The love shared between Harold and Georgia transcended the physical world; one that bound their souls for eternity. Their separation was one he never accepted. His bride, waiting at her house with God, dressed as she was in 1971. His passing is not death but rather arrival at her doorstep in full Army dress, service ribbons and pins adorned, pressed and polished or as he’d say, “Sharp as a tack.” Just as he returned from the war in Vietnam, he now greets her victorious of hist last battle on Earth. A union temporarily separated by the mortal world now reunited with the thunder of fireworks and splendor of a rising sun. Just as rain cannot exist without a sky, their inseparable love pours over all of us, never-ending from this day forth, throughout eternity. His days living life longing to see her again have passed. Rest together, Harold and Georgia Boles. What God joins death cannot separate.

Harold joined Georgia, the love of his life, to fulfill his forever promise to her in Heaven on May 30, 2020. His passage granted by our Magnificent Christ Jesus saying “Well done my good and faithful servant.” In his passing, he leaves shoes impossible to fill. He is succeeded by his daughter Maria Boles, his son Mark Boles and his wife Rachel Boles, his beautiful granddaughters Savannah Boles, Helena Boles, and Breanna Boles, and his unofficial daughter Nicole Mosher. Harold also leaves to continue this journey on Earth his siblings Libby Tate, Billy Boles and his wife Shirley, and Rusty Boles. He is preceded by his brothers Joe Boles and Tommy Boles, and his sister Dotty Boles.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord. The funeral service will be on Thursday at 11:00 am at West Concord Cemetery in Concord officiated by Pastor Corey Alley. Burial will follow at the West Concord Cemetery at 331 Union Cemetery Rd SW, Concord.

In place of flowers, please help others in their fight against Alzheimer’s by donating to the Alzheimer’s Association. Visit their website at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate/, or if you would like to contribute to a local organization please consider donating to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region at https://www.hpccr.org/give/make-a-donation.

Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord is serving the Boles family.