| Harold R. Yoak will be remembered by many Calhoun citizens as a member of the gospel music Yoak Quartet, one of the finest group of singers to spring from this part of the world.
His brother Von, of Pleasant Hill, has continued to sing solo at hundreds of local events and funerals.
The 88-year-old Yoak of Parkersburg passed away Dec. 9, 2005, at the Worthington Manor Nursing Home.
Harold was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 in the South Pacific region as a chief pharmacist mate in the Medical Corps.
His love of gospel music was a large part of Harold's life from his youth on into his service days, where he formed quartets and other groups to sing for church services in the foreign countries where he was serving.
He sang with his sister and two younger brothers in the Yoak Family Quartet for over 60 years, broadcasting over a Clarksburg radio station for several years and was a member of several quartets including the Osborne's, Mountaineer's and Servant's, and in many church and county choirs.
Harold was a well-known song leader, choir director and gospel music promoter in the Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Charleston and Belpre areas.
He was master of ceremonies of the West Virginia State Gospel Music Convention for 37 years and director at Mt. Nebo, Nicholas County, for several years.
He was a member of the Eureka Masonic Lodge 40 of Grantsville, where he received his 50-year pin in 1992, was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies of Wheeling, York Rite of Clarksburg and Nemesis Temple of Parkersburg.
Harold was retired from Consolidated Gas Transmission Corp. after 32 years of service. After retiring, he worked as a consultant for Dupont Co. Inc. for 15 years, in several area gas and oil companies and as a right of way purchaser for General Electric Co.
During his working years at Consolidated Gas, Harold attended night school at Mountain State College, where he earned a degree in business administration and a degree in accounting.
Later as a volunteer, he worked for 23 years for V.I.T.A. helping the elderly and low income families with their income taxes. He was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Vienna.
He was born April 25, 1917, in Grantsville, W.Va., a son of the late Ira R. and Fannie Morris Yoak.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Eileen Stevens Yoak; three grandchildren; four great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; three step-great-grandchildren; a brother Von Yoak of Grantsville; and several other family members and friends.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Connie Morris; four brothers; and three sisters.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Fellowship Baptist Church, Vienna, with the Rev. Jon Lands officiating. Entombment will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens Mausoleum.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today and from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Monday at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Green Street, Parkersburg, and one hour prior to the services Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Fellowship Baptist Church, 1101 46th Street, Vienna, WV 26105.
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