SFC Harold Lloyd Thomason was born in Wagner, Texas on March 7, 1931, and passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 6, 2022, unexpectedly but from natural causes.
SFC Thomason served in the US Army for 27 honorable years where he distinguished himself repeatedly for valor, service, and achievement. Harold’s love of shooting and weapons maintenance led him to serve in Marksmanship Training Units in Europe and at Fort Benning, Georgia, both as an expert rifle marksman and as the all-Europe and all-Army gunsmith. These positions took him and his family to marksmanship competitions all over the USA and Europe. Harold served multiple tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam and in Germany. His many awards include the Meritorious Medal, two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, the Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star as well as triple distinguished in the service rifle (bronze, silver, and gold).
In retirement, Harold continued with his passion for weapons and marksmanship. He taught gunsmithing and metallurgy at Trinidad State University in southern Colorado for many years and volunteered with the US Olympic Biathlon team. His expertise was routinely sought by weapons manufacturers around the world to evaluate and test new weapons systems.
It was in Karlsruhe, Germany that Harold met and courted his future wife of almost 70 years, Hannelore, who survives him, along with his loving daughter Sylvana (Gerald) Stratton of Monterey, California, loyal son Harold Lloyd Thomason of Trinidad, Colorado, grandson Timothy Thomason (Sarah) of Augusta, GA, Great Grandson Sullivan Thomason, Granddaughter Jacqui Lopez, and Great Granddaughter Sydney Thomason. Also survived by his sister Wanda Pryor, Joyce Johnson, Kenneth Thomason, and many nieces and nephews. SFC Thomason always held his family dear to his heart, offering love, counsel, and support whenever needed. Harold was truly a “dog person” who loved to train and walk his many dogs who preceded him in death. His gentle nature and love of animals also led him to adopt an orphaned groundhog which he transported to Germany when he was assigned to the Marksmanship Training Unit in Grafenwöhr!
Harold Thomason was a mountain of a man, a hero among heroes, impossible to ever replace.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, September 30, 2022, 1 pm at the Comi Funeral Home Chapel.
Inurnment will be held on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 1 pm at Pikes Peak Veterans National Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO, with full military honors conducted by Ft. Carson Honor Guard Trinidad. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, 1921 E. Main
Street, Trinidad, CO 81082.
Arrangements were made under the direction of the Comi Funeral Home.
