Harold Sherwood Newcomb

Longtime Wasilla resident Harold Sherwood Newcomb, 83, died May 7, 2012, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. A memorial service is from 2 to 4 p.m., May 19 at the Curtis Menard Sports Center in Wasilla.

Harold was born, Oct. 20, 1928, in Wilder, Tenn., to Walter Earl and Janie Irene (Herring) Newcomb. He left home at the age of 14. He joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Alaska at Fort Richardson from 1948 until he was discharged in 1952. He then moved to the Mat-Su Valley.

Harold was the owner of the Hallea Lodge, Wasilla Building Supply and owner and broker of Wasilla Realty.

Harold was a founding member of the Wasilla Ambulance and Fire Department; he was on the original board of the building trades program for Wasilla High School. He served as a member of the school board. He was on the steering committee of the first Mat-Su Borough Assembly on 1964. He was a two-term Mayor of Wasilla.

Harold was an active member of the community; taking part in the raking of the ball fields, spring cleanup, and instrumental in the construction of the Wasilla Wonderland Park. He was a member of the Lions Club; Elks Club, Rotary Club, United Way and the Boy Scouts of America.

Harold’s family will remember him as a loving father and community leader, using his community service as an example to inspire others. He loved singing, poetry and telling stories with friends, and loved his country. Harold also enjoyed auctioneering.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Patricia A. Newcomb of Wasilla; son, Kurt M. (Jeannette B.) Newcomb and their children, Michael and Rebecca; son, Randall D. (Mary E.) Newcomb and their daughter, Jessica L Crain, all of Wasilla and their son, Benjamin J. Newcomb of Oak Harbor, Wash., and daughter, Tracey L. Dunsmoor of Olympia, Wash.; daughter, Nicola J. Taysom and her children, Jesse L. Taysom both of Pocatello, Idaho and Ely L. Taysom of Sutter Creek, Calif.; daughter, Robin A. (Lawrence G.) Ouellette, and their children, Samuel and Suzanne all of Wasilla; seven great grandchildren; brother, James W. Newcomb of Costa Rica; sisters, Evelyn A. Rhule and Joan M. Thompson of Anniston, Ala., and Eunice of New Mexico.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Walter and Janie Newcomb.

Harold’s ashes will be scattered over Pioneer Peak. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Way of Mat-Su, 124 W. Swanson Avenue, Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements for the family were entrusted to Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory, Wasilla.