Wren Harold Hart's Obituary
Wren Harold Hart, age 89, of Weatherford, TX, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2011. Harold was born in 1922 at Cooper, TX to parents Wren Dean and Willie Kate Fisher Hart. Graduating in 1939 from Cooper schools, he attended East Texas State University and transferred to Texas A&M University, majoring in chemical engineering. Completing ROTC training, he graduated as Battalion Commander of the Chemical Warfare Unit. Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, graduating from Chemical Warfare OCS at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, he served his country in World War II. His unit was sent to Southampton, England in 1944 where he volunteered with infantry paratroopers and assigned to Fontainebleau, France as platoon leader. Harold received an honorable discharge at Ft. Bliss, TX in 1946 as Infantry Captain. In 1948, he formed the Infantry Armored Unit with the Texas National Guard at Cooper, TX, as Company Commander. He was also active with the 49th Armored Division, then serving inactive duty from 1946-1952. Assuming responsibilities of the family business, he was co-owner and publisher of The Cooper Review and Delta Courier from 1946-1952. He married Janelle Witcher of Honey Grove, TX on March 8, 1947 and recently celebrated 64 years of marriage with the love of his life. Born to this union were two daughters, Melissa Ann and Wrenda. In 1952, Harold and his brother, Lyndol moved to Weatherford and purchased the weekly newspaper, The Weatherford Democrat, and brought it to daily publication. The Hart brothers brought a technological advance to the newspaper, converting it to offset printing in 1962. The Democrat was the first newspaper in Texas to go offset and one of the first in the country to convert to the process. They sold the publication in 1967. After a brief retirement, Harold changed career paths, and was employed by Financial Programs of Denver, CO from 1967-1972, as a dual-registered securities and life insurance representative, achieving President’s Club status for 5 years. He then worked as an account executive for EF Hutton in Ft. Worth, TX from 1972-1976. He started his own company in 1977 as Financial Investment Services; active until his retirement in 1996. An active member of the Grace First Presbyterian Church for 59 years, Harold served both as a Deacon and Elder. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Weatherford Housing Authority, Water and Electric board, as well as president of the Weatherford Gideon Camp and various civic and fraternal organizations. His lifetime support and love for his alma-mater, he was an Aggie throughout. Until recently, he still actively traded the stock market daily on the Internet. His wisdom, discipline, perseverance and judgment have been a source of inspiration and guidance to all who knew him. Loving husband, father, grandfather, loyal and faithful friend, a man of his word, he will be in our hearts forever. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, W.D. and Willie Kate, and two brothers, Wilbur and Lyndol. Survivors include his loving wife, Janelle, daughters Melissa Patterson of Weatherford and Wrenda Rix and son-in-law, Chris Rix of Lewisville. Grandchildren, Taylor Wren Rix of Lewisville and Jordan Patterson and wife, Katie of Corpus Christi. Following a private burial at Restland Cemetery in Dallas, a memorial service will be held at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 608 Mockingbird Lane, on Dec. 3, 2011, 11:00 AM; the Reverend Charles Bruner presiding. Friends are invited to join the family at the memorial service in a remembrance and celebration of Harold’s life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Harold’s honor to Grace First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.
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