Obituary for Harold Routon
Harold Glen Routon, age 84, of Jonesville, Louisiana passed away on December 3, 2020 at home with his family by his side after losing his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born January 6, 1936 in Harrisonburg, Louisiana to Clarence Forsythe and Eolene Imogen McCollister Routon. He graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 1953 and then attended Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he earned a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and received a commission in the Air Force through the ROTC program in 1958.
After reporting for active duty, he entered the Air Force pilot training school at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma where he met the love of his life, Valieta Aliene Dorsey. They were married December 27, 1959. They lived at several stateside military bases as well as Ramstein, Germany AFB where he was assigned to the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron piloting the F-100D Super Sabre from 1961-1964. After serving 6 years in the Air Force, Harold was honorably discharged as he requested on May 22, 1964. He then returned to Catahoula Parish where he was a partner and manager of a 2,500 acre farming and cattle operation and employed by C. H. Leavell Construction Company as quality control engineer on the Jonesville Lock and Dam. He continued employment with C. H. Leavell and moved to Oklahoma in 1972. For the next several years, the family moved from Oklahoma to Texas to Minnesota and back to Texas until settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1977 where he accepted a job with Turner Industries and worked for them for 27 years before retiring.
Wherever the family lived, they were active members in local churches. Harold was an ordained deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, and served on many church and community committees. Harold was known by others for his upstanding character, his willingness to always help someone in need, and his light-hearted humor. His many hobbies included working in his shop, making stained glass angels and kaleidoscopes, gardening, and general “piddling” around. Harold’s parents instilled in him a high sense of value for family, friends, honesty, morality, and God which had the most effects on how he lived his life.
Harold is survived by his wife Valieta of Jonesville and children Valerie Hanks (Harold) of Birmingham, Alabama, Rox Routon (Jessica) of Jonesville, and Robert Routon (Elizabeth) of Baton Rouge, 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, his brother Clarence Jr. (Jo Ann) of Jonesville, and several nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his daugher, Rene Routon Sullivan and his parents Clarence F. Routon, Sr., and Imogen Routon.
Pallbearers will be Barrett Routon, Jack Routon, Dylan Sanson, Harold Hanks, Kevin Routon, and Layne McGuffee. Harold was a member of Harrisonburg First Baptist Church where funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm with Dr. Phillip Caples and Robert Bradley officiating. Eulogies will be given by grandchildren Barrett Routon, Jack Routon, and Katie Helen Routon Sanson. Interment will follow at Harrisonburg Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home, Jonesville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials given to support Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
After reporting for active duty, he entered the Air Force pilot training school at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma where he met the love of his life, Valieta Aliene Dorsey. They were married December 27, 1959. They lived at several stateside military bases as well as Ramstein, Germany AFB where he was assigned to the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron piloting the F-100D Super Sabre from 1961-1964. After serving 6 years in the Air Force, Harold was honorably discharged as he requested on May 22, 1964. He then returned to Catahoula Parish where he was a partner and manager of a 2,500 acre farming and cattle operation and employed by C. H. Leavell Construction Company as quality control engineer on the Jonesville Lock and Dam. He continued employment with C. H. Leavell and moved to Oklahoma in 1972. For the next several years, the family moved from Oklahoma to Texas to Minnesota and back to Texas until settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1977 where he accepted a job with Turner Industries and worked for them for 27 years before retiring.
Wherever the family lived, they were active members in local churches. Harold was an ordained deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, and served on many church and community committees. Harold was known by others for his upstanding character, his willingness to always help someone in need, and his light-hearted humor. His many hobbies included working in his shop, making stained glass angels and kaleidoscopes, gardening, and general “piddling” around. Harold’s parents instilled in him a high sense of value for family, friends, honesty, morality, and God which had the most effects on how he lived his life.
Harold is survived by his wife Valieta of Jonesville and children Valerie Hanks (Harold) of Birmingham, Alabama, Rox Routon (Jessica) of Jonesville, and Robert Routon (Elizabeth) of Baton Rouge, 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, his brother Clarence Jr. (Jo Ann) of Jonesville, and several nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his daugher, Rene Routon Sullivan and his parents Clarence F. Routon, Sr., and Imogen Routon.
Pallbearers will be Barrett Routon, Jack Routon, Dylan Sanson, Harold Hanks, Kevin Routon, and Layne McGuffee. Harold was a member of Harrisonburg First Baptist Church where funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm with Dr. Phillip Caples and Robert Bradley officiating. Eulogies will be given by grandchildren Barrett Routon, Jack Routon, and Katie Helen Routon Sanson. Interment will follow at Harrisonburg Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home, Jonesville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials given to support Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”