Harold Bright, 90, passed away on Saturday, April 13th at the Alton Memorial Hospital after suffering an infection in his legs.
Harold was born on January 21st, 1934, in Valier, IL the son of Valley and Maxine (nee McQuinn) Bright. He was preceded in death by both parents, a son, Douglas Bright of Bloomington, IN and a brother, Robert Bright of Panama. Surviving family members include: his wife, Martha Bright of Bethalto, IL, a brother, Dean of Tulsa, OK, a son, Paul (Lenora) Bright of Peoria, IL; three grandchildren, Nicholas (Lindsey) Bright of Naples, FL, Jessica (Dan) Fox of Seattle, WA and Emily Bright of Peoria, IL and two great-grandchildren; Charlotte and Henry Bright of Naples, FL, his step-children, Rebekah A. Bredel and John (Charlotte) Ingold, four step-grandchildren, Mary-Kate K. (Jason) Kelly of Glen Carbon, IL, Tyler I. Bredel of Collinsville, IL, Tonya E. (Rob) Stacy of Moro, IL, and Ashlee M. Ingold of Bunker, MO, and five step-great-grandchildren.
Harold and Martha celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary just a few days before he passed.
After growing up in Valier, Harold joined the army and served in the artillery. Following the army and using the skills he learned in the artillery, Harold moved to Decatur and then Salem, IL to become a land surveyor. After several years in Salem and the birth of his two sons, he moved his family to Centralia, IL to work for the Watwood and Pyle engineering company. After a few years, Harold started the Bright Surveying Company in Centralia that was in business for nearly three decades.
For his whole life, Harold was affectionately known by everyone as PeeWee. A nickname that came from a neighbor when he was first born. When new people heard it for the first time they always laughed, but then it just became natural.
Harold loved being a surveyor and his name can be found on hundreds of plats in courthouses around the Centralia area. Even after retiring from his own firm, Harold continued to survey for other engineering firms till well into his seventies. In his younger days, he loved to play baseball. He was also a dedicated Cardinals fan who would sit at the kitchen table and listen to a game on the radio late into the night. Harold was also an avid golfer and was a long-time member of Greenview Golf Club in Centralia. Even in his retirement, Harold was able to shoot scores near his age.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 17th from 10:00 till 11:00 AM with the funeral service starting at 11:00 at the Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto, IL. Burial will follow at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, IL.
Harold and Martha were longtime members of the First Baptist Church in Centralia and the First Baptist Church in Bethalto. Both churches cared for Harold and Martha many times and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of these churches.
An on-line guestbook and condolences may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.
