Col. Harry Holt Moreland, age 94, born in Mobile, Alabama and a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2018.
He was born Jan. 20, 1924 to Col. John Wylie Moreland and Damaris Smith Moreland.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Moreland; and his sister, Ann Moreland Ellis.
He is survived by his wife, Maureen Corte Moreland of Fairhope, Alabama; his children, James Harry Moreland, Mary Ann Noel (Roger), David Richard Moreland, Sandra Dee Gartman and Steven Holt Moreland (Jan); his stepchildren, Ormand Patrick Thompson III (Missy), DeSha Thompson Stapleton and Angela Thompson Pace (Ron); grandchildren, Chris, Heather, Justin, Catherine, David, Caroline, Chandler, Bennett, Brendon, Andrew, Hannah, Brittany and Michael; great-grandchildren, Lily, Trinity, Connor, Abi, Owen, Ella, Katie and Tessa.
He began his military career at the age of 18 in February 1942 in the Army Air Corps. Graduated from Maxwell Air Force Base from flying school in 1943 then off to Perry, Florida to train in the P47.
His first assignment in World War II was with the 27th Fighter Bomber Group flying out of Anzio, Italy. He was in World War II, Korean War (1950) and Vietnam War (1967).
He flew over 45 different types of aircraft, from the PT-17 to the F-4 jet. He flew 150 missions in WWII, and was shot down twice; 127 in Korea, and shot down twice; 85 in Vietnam.
He retired with an honorable discharge in July 1972.
He was the first director of Economic and Industrial Development for Baldwin County, past chairman of Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Counselor of the Year 2010, Mobile Bay Area Veteran of the Year 2008, member of the Round Table, Quail Creek Wednesday Men's Senior Golf League, Ancient Aviators and Military Officers Association of America.
He was instrumental in bringing Honor Flight to the Mobile/Baldwin county area and was on the first flight in May 2009.
He was an avid tennis pro in Florida as well as the Fairhope area.
He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from University of Maryland, January 1963. He also attended the University of Alabama in the Business College.
Special thanks to Dr. Douglas Amare, Dr. Christopher Mire, Dr. Christopher Gammard, Dr. Brian Dearing of Cardiology Associates, Dr. Barry Booth, Dr. Albert Corte, Dr. Fulton DeFour, Dr. Nicole Kerch, Dr. William Staggers, Fresenius Dialysis Center staff-Fairhope and Thomas Hospital staff.
Special thanks to Wayne Griffin, Joe Mikulka, Michele Statler, Aaron Norris and Tom Boudreau.
"To the World he was an airman; to us he was the world."
A celebration of Col. Moreland's life will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis at the Point Anglican Church, reception to follow.
Inurnment will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort.
Memorials in his honor may be made to St. Francis at the Point Anglican Church, P.O. Box 916, Point Clear, AL 36564; Rileigh and Raylee Angel Ride Foundation Inc., P. O. Box 209, Montrose, AL 36559, or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-990-7775, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
