In Loving Memory of Harrison Stroud
Harrison “Harry” Edgar Stroud, age 98, passed away July 7th, 2024 at his home, surrounded by his family.
Harry was a remarkable man whose life was characterized by love of his family, love of our country, cherished friendships, UCLA sports, Dodger baseball, growing beautiful flowers and tomatoes in his garden, fishing, playing tennis, and his never-ending appreciation for a long and wonderful life.
Harry was born in Burbank, CA in 1926 to William and Lucia Stroud. He was their second child after his sister Ann. He graduated from Burbank High School.
In 1944, at 17 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was whisked off to basic training in Farragut, ID and then on to Class A Yeoman Training school in San Diego. Harry was a World War II Veteran who served on the USS Kenton in the Pacific. His ship was awarded honorary citations for both the Liberation of the Philippines and the final battle at Okinawa. Harry enjoyed many reunions with his shipmates throughout his life and was the last living survivor of his ship.
Harry graduated from UCLA in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity where he made lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers. He spent summers working in Yosemite with fraternity brothers where he had such fond memories. Harry was a huge fan and supporter of UCLA sports.
While at UCLA, Harry met Sarah Jane Shiells, a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. They married in 1951 and raised five children in Van Nuys and Newhall.
Harry started his career at Texaco and Sundstrand before landing his dream job in Personnel Administration at TRW, an aerospace company in Redondo Beach. Later in his career, he moved his family to Mentor, OH where he worked at TRW corporate headquarters in Cleveland as Corporate Director of Manpower.
He was especially proud of the work he did with the National Alliance of Business (NAB) in California and Washington D.C. while on loan from TRW. He managed the U.S. program that placed over 130,000 Vietnam Veterans in jobs after the war. At White House receptions, Harry received three commendations from Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford for his many accomplishments with NAB.
Sadly, Harry’s wife Sarah died in 1981. After being widowed for several years, he met JoAnn Guenther. JoAnn brought love and joy back into Harry's life, and they were married in 1988. Harry spent his retirement years playing tennis and traveling the world with JoAnn.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Los Angeles Scottish Rite, and the Al Malaikah Shrine Masonic organizations; the Santa Barbara Cosmopolitan Club; and All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, where he had numerous friendships. No matter where Harry went in the world, he always managed to bump into someone he knew!
Harry was preceded in death by his first wife Sarah from Fillmore, his second wife JoAnn from Rolling Hills Estates, and his sister Ann Ankerman from Midway City.
He is survived by his five children: Susan (Richard) Kentro, Linda (Norman) Pick, Dan (Julie) Stroud, Jack (Rita) Stroud, and Alan (Kathryn) Stroud; two step-children: Krista (Tony) Walker and Eric Amend; fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at the All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara on September 21, 2024 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Transition House at 425 East Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.