Obituary of Harold A. Grainger

HAROLD A. GRAINGER

February 1, 1934 – February 15, 2022

Harold (Hal) was born on February 1, 1934, to Mae Rose Ihling and Harold Aloysius Grainger in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in Asbury Park, NJ, and attended Asbury Park High School where he was a standout athlete playing both football and baseball. It was at Asbury Park High School where he met the love of his life, Anastasia (Ann).

He attended Niagara University on a ROTC scholarship and played baseball for NU. He was scouted for the major league, but instead entered the US Army upon completion of college.

Hal and Ann married on June 17, 1956, and began many years of military duty and travel going from various Army bases on the East Coast to Germany to the West and finally back to Northern Virginia when he was stationed at the Pentagon and headed up the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.

Hal did tours of duty in Vietnam and on Shemya – an isolated island on the Aleutian chain – where he was the Army Commander. He received numerous medals and awards throughout his career, including the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.

Hal retired from the military in February 1983 after 26 years of service. He then entered the private sector, working as an entrepreneur – starting his own successful business and eventually working in real estate with his wife Ann.

He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends. Hal loved the ocean, fishing and crabbing and especially his boats. He had an amazing intellect and loved to read, especially books about the Civil War and history. He had a quick, dry and wonderful sense of humor. He was a patient, kind and honorable man and he was incredibly humble when asked about all of his military and career accomplishments and contributions.

Hal was an amazing Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather. Hal leaves behind his wife Ann of 65 wonderful and loving years and six children, Patricia (Keith) Yeoman, Kathleen (Bill) Blum, Stephanie (Mark) Grainger/Jaehning, Victoria Shirley, Mark (Catherine) Grainger and Colleen (Michael) Kranicke, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was truly the best of the best, and he is missed so very much.

Hal will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on June 30, 2022.

Funeral Mass

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 30th at 10:30am at St. Ann Catholic Church, 5300 10th Street N., Arlington, VA, 22205. Phone number is 703 -528-6276.

Burial at Arlington National Cemetery

The burial with full Military Funeral Honors will take place at 3pm on June 30th at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Attendees MUST be at the cemetery by 2:00pm.

The address is: 1 Memorial Ave, Arlington, VA.

At the Guard Gate – provide your ID to enter. Tell them you are attending a funeral.

DO NOT park in the parking garage. You will be directed where to drive to get to the Administration Building.

At the Administration Building pull into the dedicated lane indicating “Grainger”.

Wait in your car until directed to continue to the burial site by the Arlington representative for the family.

It will be hot and humid. It’s suggested to bring a water bottle with you.

Good info about the Order of Events at Arlington is found here: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Attending-a-Funeral/Order-of-Events

Arlington National Cemetery Map: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Portals/0/Docs/ANC-Map-2017.pdf

Reception

A reception will follow at 4pm at the Fort Myer’s Officer Club (Patton Hall) located at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Hatfield Gate at Fort Myer is the only way for visitors to enter onto the Fort for the reception.

The address is Hatfield Gate, Fort Myer, VA 22211

The Officer Club is at 214 Jackson Avenue, Fort Myer. Remembrance Presentation will begin at 4:30pm.

There are security procedures for entrance to Ft. Myer’s military base. Please note: the visitor’s pass is strongly encouraged to be completed in advance to avoid delays in getting to the reception. You may find information about the security requirements to enter the Fort at: https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/index.php/my-fort/all-services/access-gate-info

To apply in advance for a visitor’s pass please click on https://pass.aie.army.mil/JBMHH/

This is STRONGLY encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your charity of choice.