Harold Blair Wall

Harold Blair Wall, 92, Raleigh, NC, died April 20, 2014. He was born in Knightdale to Bennett Lewis Wall & Evie David Harrison Wall on October 9, 1921. He went to UNC-CH on a baseball scholarship after his 1939 Knightdale High graduation. After 1 week, homesickness took him back to Knightdale, another scholarship at Wake Forest College & another rapid return home. His brief pro- & semi-pro baseball career in Rocky Mount & Burlington Mills until 1942 later barred him from playing at NCSU. In 1942, while he was at his fathers drugstore, Florence Louise Combs came in for ice cream. That night Harold went home and said he’d met the girl he was going to marry. He dated her every night before deploying in WWII. He married her as fast as he could on returning from WWII. Their December 8, 1946, Hayes Barton Baptist church wedding was followed by 66 loving years of marriage before Louises death. During their Lexington, Ky. honeymoon, he carried Louise everywhere because of snow and her lack of close-toed shoes. Harold and Louise were founding members of Hayes Barton Baptists Townsend Couples Sunday School Class in 1946. From 1942 - 1945 his U.S. Signal Corps service in the South Pacific included the Philippines, Australia & New Guinea. He enjoyed running into cousins from Knightdale also serving. Working night shift, he even played baseball while in Australia. He and Louise wrote to each other almost every day and he complained about the holes censors cut in the letters. His B.S. & M.S. degree were from NC State. His 25 year banking career included: VP at First Citizens & at Branch Bank and changes in banks whenever transfer out of Raleigh was proposed. After a year as Sanders Ford Gen. Manager he missed banking and became Bank of NC VP. He took great pride in helping many businesses get started with loans & resulting lifelong friendships. He was in development at the NCSU Foundation Office for 4 years, then 20 years with the NC Dept. of Commerce. Harold was devoted to his community and active in many civic organizations including: Bd. of Dirs., Ral. Chamber of Commerce, Ral. Little Theater, Wake Co. Chap. of Amer. Institute of Banking, Ral. Executives Club; Pres., Ral. Sports Club, Ral. Civitan Club; Wake Co. Shriners; Sudan Temple of New Bern; Sec-Treas. of Ral. City Firemans Relief Fund, ’55 - ’97; Hiram Masonic Lodge; City Hall Citizen Committee; Ral. Basketball Officials Assn; & member, Raleigh & Northridge Country Clubs. An athlete: he played softball into his 60s, golfing as often as he could as long as he could. Devoted to the Wolfpack, he was a founding Wolfpack Club member. He ran the clock as a volunteer for the Wolfpack girls’ and boys’ basketball and football teams for 35 years - telling his family that 55 days a year he was the Packs. His collection of baseball collectibles included World Series autographed balls & bats from 25 years of Series trips with friends. A friend of many he met, he was entertained by a long list of the many famous baseball players and sports figures he met. This past football season he only missed one NCSU game! Harold and Louise had an active social life, traveling and adventuring with friends, including watching big games with all the kids. The NCSU red basement in their Brookhaven home of 43 years was the site of great parties with many NCSU coaches and players, including Roman Gabriel. If it wasn’t NCSU red, house décor was John Wayne or Clark Gable. A consummate storyteller, he never ran out of stories of sports, Knightdale, friends, family & people he’d helped. Other than Louise, Harolds pride and joy were his two daughters, Beth and Blair, and their children, Paige, Christopher and Angel and great-grandson Hunter Blair. The family enjoyed 25 years of fun at their Atlantic beach place. Harold had an eye for fashion and for years picked out elegant clothes for his girls (including Louise). After retirement he loved to work at Blairs clothing stores: The Yum Yum tree and Apropos Boutique and did not hesitate to tell the clients what looked good! Harold is survived by: daughters, Elizabeth Beth Wall Linker & Barry Linker (Salisbury), Blair Wall Smallman & Stephen C. Smallman (Raleigh); grandchildren, Christopher Blair Wall, Jennifer Paige Wall & Angel Marie Smallman; & great-grandson, Hunter Blair Wall. Also surviving are his beloved nieces: Lianne Matar, Victoria Dahlia, Diana Wall, Ann Wall, Judy Somers, Nancy Hall, Cathy Berkowitz, Lynne Golliher, Joyce Allen; nephew, Larry Combs; and many beloved great-nephews & nieces. Kathleen Stephensons 48 year care of the home & family made Harolds & Louises careers possible. Robert Tylers 5 years of devotion to being Harolds constant companion & caregiver made him a beloved family member. Amazing love of caregivers and earthly angels was given to Harold: Clem Pearson, Cynthia and Ashley Shaw, Dae Chapin, Trish Murphy, Wanda Johnson (whose singing he loved ), Arron Daniels, Lizzie Rogers, Joshua Willis are the best! Harolds parents preceded him in death. Harold maintained close and loving relationships throughout his life with, and was preceded in death by, siblings: Bennett H. Wall, Louis McGinnis Wall, Ida Joyce Wall, Elizabeth Wall Wilburn and Burton Wall Rodenberg; beloved nieces, David Zehmer and Maie Clark. Visitation: Hayes Barton Baptist, 1-2 p.m. Thurs. April 24, 2014 followed by service at 2 p.m. Harold asked that wolfpackers who would like to - wear NCSU red. Private burial. In lieu of flowers, send memorials to: Wolfpack Club, P.O. Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627-7100, (919) 865-1500, with condolences & stories to www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com.