Harold McMaster Obituary

With great sadness we mourn the loss of Harold McMaster who passed into the presence of the Lord Jesus on May 2, 2010. Loving and devoted husband of Lois McMaster, father of Dennis, Ken, Curt, and Mike McMaster, and Amy Goodsell. Father in law to Sandy, Linda, and Christina McMaster and Glen Goodsell. Grandfather of Anna, Keir, Scot, Eryn, Brian, Trevor, Justin Michael, Tabitha, and Andrew McMaster, Brooke Wilkins (Brett), and Chelsea Barton (Dane), Noah, Tess, and Faye Goodsell, and Rick and Justin Sellen. Great grandfather of Reese and Charlotte Wilkins, and Makenzie McMaster. Brother to Florence, Ruby, John, Doris, Don, Etta May, Rose Mary, James, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Richard. Son of John Homer Paul McMaster of Downers Grove, Illinois who was the son of Abram McMaster of Bedford, Iowa who was the son of John Crawford McMaster of Sligo, Ireland who was the son of M. McMaster of Scotland. Harold was born August 20, 1928 in Downers Grove, Illinois to John Homer Paul and Virginia (Van Der Water) McMaster and was raised there in the family home on Naperville Road until graduating from high school in 1947 and enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in July, 1948. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and served his country in Indianapolis, Indiana, and at O'Hare Field near Chicago. Married a Downers Grove girl and the love of his life, Lois Bevers, in 1950. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together April 22. Received his honorable discharge from the Air Force in July, 1952. Harold worked for the Fuller Brush Company during the fifties and sixties selling household goods door-to-door in and around the Chicago area, then Flint, Michigan, then in the Cambrian, Los Gatos, and Saratoga areas around San Jose. In 1970 he began working as a salesman for Kaufman and Broad homebuilders. Sold hundreds and hundreds of homes in San Jose, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Tracy. Many of those homes were sold to first time homebuyers who remember the thoughtful and sincere man who helped them navigate the difficulties of buying a first home. Retired from Kaufman and Broad in 1992 and moved with Lois to Medford, Oregon. He and Lois returned to the San Jose area in 2000. Harold was an avid and talented golfer who won several titles including DuPage County (Illinois) Champion in 1958, Flint Publinx Champion in 1963, and Almaden Country Club Champion in 1966 and 1974. He was a charter member of the Almaden Country Club and once got the better of then defending Masters champion George Archer of Gilroy while playing together at Almaden by carding a 66 to Archer's 70 that day. He loved playing golf with his boys and with his Almaden and Rogue Valley (Oregon) friends. Most of all Harold will be remembered for the way he loved his family. He was devoted to his loving wife, Lois and treated her respectfully and lovingly all of their days together. Taught his children and grandchildren the power of love, sincerity, and perseverance by word and by the way he lived his life. Loved hearing about the trials and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren and prayed for them diligently. Harold will be missed and fondly remembered. A memorial service to honor his life will be held on Saturday May 22, 2010, at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 6625 Camden Avenue, San Jose, California, 95120.