Harold R. Crookes
January 30, 1946 - April 07, 2017
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Harold R. Crookes
January 30, 1946 - April 07, 2017
Obituary
Harold Ralph Crookes was a son, brother, husband, friend and most importantly Father. Harry was born January 30th, 1946 in Dublin, Ireland. He moved to Canada in 1951 and to the USA in 1954. Known as Harry & Har by his beloved family. His friends and trusted co-workers called him Hal.
Harry-Har-Hal graduated from University of Michigan and Southern Methodist University Dallas (as a lawyer) – Top of his class. He served in the Air Force as a fighter pilot and remained grateful to his dying days for his lucky F105 fighter plane that carried him to safety. He served four years to his new country during the Vietnam War.
Not surprising, that he continued to be top of his class as a dedicated career lawyer in contract law with Ma Bell, Air Touch Cellular, and finished his career last year with Verizon Wireless.
His most cherished role in life was fathering his beautiful daughter Sara.
May our heart pockets continue to be touched by your love, Harold, Har, Harry, and Hal.
Rest in Peace!
We love you always and forever.
In lieu of flowers, Hal and his family wish donations be made to The HeartWay
(www.theheartway.org)
3 responses to Harold R. Crookes
Rynae Benson says:
April 15, 2017
Hal hired me at Airtouch a little over 20 years ago. He was such an amazing boss and person. We remained in touch all these years and he will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m heartbroken over the loss of Hal, but his smile and beautiful spirit will live on forever in my mind and heart. Missing you, Hal. :heart:
Mike Harvey says:
April 16, 2017
My Pal Hal
I first met my pal Hal about 35 (give or take 5) years ago at what was then the John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach. Both of us were young, strong, witty, and dashing.
Well, at least Hal was.
Anyway, some of the club members actually played tennis and both my pal Hal and I were among those few. We played singles tennis regularly, and in 15 years of trying I never beat my pal Hal once, so I presume he must have gotten a reasonable amount of satisfaction from watching me salute his winners as they sailed past me. We enjoyed competing both against each other and as a team against our adversaries.
In between matches and through the years that followed we solved the world’s problems repeatedly and completely. But both my pal Hal and I (much earlier for me than for Hal) realized that neither of us could live on this expertise alone, and we entered seniority with bigger families and smaller attitudes. And now I hope that he will forgive me for exposing him for what he really was.
He was the only person I’d ever known who polished his tennis shoes before and immediately after every match.
My pal Hal was more paranoid about the physical nearness of a liberal than I am about airplane turbulence. How the two of us got along remains one of the world’s great mysteries.
A little known fact is that he had a near mental breakdown when Niketown closed down, and I am told that he took enormous pride in the organization of his sock drawer.
But in addition to all that, my pal Hal had infinite room in his heart and love for his family, and I can state unequivocally that was an incredibly intelligent, generous, talented individual with an outstanding sense of humor.
Hal was the classiest man I’ve ever known.
I am proud to call my pal Hal my friend.
Rest Well, Hal, I’ll always miss you.
Colin Scatcherd and the Oakwood Resort says:
April 4, 2018
Our deepest Condolences, to his family and friends I have no words but we’ve lost another golfer. He will forever be in Oakwood’s memory as well as mine.