Harold was a 1940 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School and attended Altoona Bible Institute for a year. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in WWII in the 3017th Engineer Maintenance Company and the 4th Engineer Special Brigade in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He also served in the Korean conflict with the 756th Headquarters Company.

He retired from Appleton Papers Inc., Roaring Spring (formerly D.M. Bare Paper Co.), as a kiln attendant in 1984 after 30 years of service, and he was formerly employed with the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Harold was a charter member of Reservoir Bible Church, where he taught Sunday school and Bible school and served as a deacon for 55 years. He also did volunteer work for Child Evangelism Fellowship. He enjoyed reading his Bible, playing baseball with his family, gardening and crossword puzzles. He was an avid Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers and Hollidaysburg High School Tigers fan.