HAROLD W. UZZELL
Nov. 22, 1923-Sept. 4, 2009
CHARLOTTE -- Harold "Hal" Uzzell, 85, transitioned from planet Earth into the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ whom he dearly loves, Friday at the Greensboro home of his daughter and son-in-law, surrounded by his loving family.
A service of celebration of Hal's life will be held at St. Giles Pres-byterian Church in Charlotte Friday at 4 p.m. following a private family burial. The family will receive friends at the church after the service.
Hal was a wonderful, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was a servant of the most high God and he never wavered in his faith and adoration of the Lord Jesus Christ, even in the face of suffering.
He exemplified to his family and all who knew him an incredible love of life and of learning. He loved to study the Bible and said that opening the Scriptures was walking into the presence of God.
He loved being a grandfather and created beautiful memories for his family by telling stories, taking us to the beach every summer and presiding over holidays.
The eighth of 13 children, Hal was born in LaGrange to the late Robert and Jewel Uzzell Nov. 22, 1923. He loved his childhood home and took his family back to LaGrange every Christmas and summer. He loved family reunions and studying the history of the Uzzell family.
Hal proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II on the U.S.S. LST 609 in the Pacific theater and participated in the longest naval battle in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in 1944. He loved history and never tired of telling stories of the war.
Hal graduated from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and began his career in consumer finance with Redisco, later working with Chrysler Credit Corp-oration and finally with Barclays American.
He married Virginia "Ginny" Bassett Sept. 29, 1951, and had a son, Wright, and daughter, Lisa.
Hal's career took him and his family to Richmond, Va.; Atlanta, Ga.; Detroit, Mich.; and finally to Charlotte, where he had lived for the past 39 years. They made many precious friends and memories along the way.
Hal was a devoted member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, where he served as a teacher, on the board of elders, on mission trips and on the presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He loved the church and wanted to be there whenever its doors were open.
He leaves behind his beloved wife, Ginny; son and daughter-in-law, Wright and Sylvia Uzzell; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Buster Lewis; grandchildren, Aaron Uzzell, Chelsea Lewis, Audrey Lewis and Lauren Black; sister, Mary Frances Griffin; brother, Gerald Uzzell; and many nieces and nephews.
Hal was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Leslie, Roger, Robert, Dan, Bobby and Byron Uzzell, and his sisters Alice Mewborn, Josephine Harper, Ava Lucas and Esther Brown.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Giles Presbyterian Church or The Cancer Foundation.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 8, 2009 1:47 PM