Harold Straker

Harold Straker, 91, born in Umatilla to John G. and Ruth Owens Straker October 24, 1925, passed away Tuesday, June 27, 2017. He attended Umatilla High School until drafted into the US Army serving in World War II. When he returned home attended Florida Southern College to study the Citrus Industry. He was a member of the Umatilla Baseball Club (#10) 1947-1950. He was a lifelong resident of Umatilla, retiring from the harvesting department at Golden Gem Growers where he worked for 29 years. Shortly after his retirement, he went to work at R.P. Hottinger Construction Inc. (1989-2017) Umatilla. He loved the outdoors-hunting, riding 4-wheelers and airboating. He was a past member of the Central Florida Dog Hunters Association, a lifetime member of the Haw Creek Hunt Club, a lifetime member of the Lake County Airboat Club, member of the Old-timers Citrus Growers and the Umatilla breakfast group. He was Santa Claus for more than two decade for North Lake County with United Southern Bank in the Umatilla and Astor Christmas Parades. He enjoyed this time greatly. Harold was predeceased by his wife Bernice (Griffin, 2007) and is survived by his two daughters, Kelley (Dennis) Thompson, Altoona, Christy (Raymond) Hottinger, Eustis; two sisters, Sara Land, Umatilla, Phyllis Young, Tallahassee. He had 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Harold's life will be held at the Straker Homestead, “The Hill” 13711 West Highway 450, Umatilla on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 10:30 AM. Memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.