Harold Goeringer Eulogy, December 21, 2005

We're here today to celebrate the life of Harold Goeringer, and When Sally asked me to do Harold's Eulogy I was honored because there are probably very few people that knew Harold as I did. I knew him on almost a daily basis at work, while I was a CHP officer and Harold was a Sheriffs Sergeant, and for over five years we worked the same shift. I also knew him as family as Sally is my cousin and Harold along with Sally was on our Jordan Family Reunion Committee, of which I am also a member.

Harold was never afraid to express his opinion good, bad or indifferent. He was a very productive member of our Jordan Reunion Committee, and was always early to our reunions helping to set up displays, tables and chairs.

He was also a conscious sheriff's sergeant assigned to the Tulare County Jail. My Partner and I always enjoyed working with Harold because when we were finished booking a prisoner Harold would always invite us back into his office to have coffee while we finish our reports.

I had a great many memories about incidents occurring at the jail while I was on duty but none more memorable than the night I showed up at the jail with my partner and a prisoner.

Deputy Ed Washington was at the booking office window looking out at us with an obvious look of concern in his eyes. We parked the patrol car in the secured sally port and by this time Deputy Washington was motioning me over to the window.

I immediately went to Deputy Washington and he handed me the cell block keys saying that there was big trouble up on the second floor. That the inmates had started a fire and were out of their cells, in the hall way and would no go back into their cells.

Apparently a new deputy, had in error let the inmates out of their cells after they had started their mattresses on fire, instead of the usual procedure of hosing down the fire from the outside of the cells.

My partner and I went up to the second floor slamming the door dosed behind us. What we saw there was not a pretty sight. The air was filled with smoke and ash. There were 20 prisoners all felons were out in the hallway screaming and yelling at Harold. Harold upon hearing the door slam looked at me stated "If they don't go back in their cells Frank mace them".

The prisoners upon seeing me with my can of mace in hand marched in single file back into their cells. Little did they know that I would of never have pulled the trigger on that can of mace as the mace always affected me much more than anyone I had ever used it on. It was the assertive tone of Harold's voice and the fact that the prisoners had already subjected themselves to inhaling a great deal of smoke that persuaded them to retreat into the cells.

Now with Harold as you can imagine this issue did stop at that point, he had all the

prisoners involved striped down naked and on this cold winter night placed in the cage a top the jail. Needless to say he never had another prisoner start a fire on his shift. However I guess the Sheriff wasn't really happy with what he saw the next morning when he looked at the roof of the jail as he was driving into the Sheriffs office parking lot.

Harold Henry Goeringer was born in Dinuba, California to Henry and Helena Friesen Goeringer on January 7, 1925. He left this life in Visalia on Dec. 17, 2005, at the age of 80.

Harold's father a German Farmer, in Russian Siberia, had just recently escaped from that county's reign of terror due to the take over by the Bolsheviks.

Harold had 6 brothers and sisters. He attended German School and Graduated from Dinuba Union High School. He farmed, worked as a truck driver, and in 1949 enlisted in the US Navy. Upon his first cruise in the Navy he became very sea sick and the Navy gave him an Honorable Discharge.

So Harold then enlisted in something with some solid footing the US Army. He was sent to Military Police School and assigned to the infantry with the rank of Sergeant serving in Korea for 2 years from 1950 to 1951. During this time he served in General Van Fleet's elite honor guard, a very prestigious position.

While in Korea he was in many of the major battles. One of which was the famous battle known as Pork Chop Hill.

He received his honorable discharge in 1953 and that same year joined the Tulare County Sheriff's office as a deputy sheriff. In 1966 he was promoted to Sergeant.

On November 10, 1970 he married the love of his life Sally Ann Ward, in National City, California.

Harold retired from the Sheriffs office in 1978 and that same year went to work for Mount Whitney High School as School Police Officer. He worked for Mount Whitney High School for 12 years prior to retiring.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years Sally, a daughter Brenda Goeringer, a granddaughter Amanda, two sisters Gen Dittenbir 1 and Eve Gentry, one brother Abe Goeringer 1 and several nieces and nephews.

In 1972 Harold joined the Mineral King Masonic Lodge #720 of which he was twice the Past Master.

He was also a member of the following organizations: Royal Arch Masons & Scottish Rite the Tehran Temple of the Shrine

The American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars the Tulare Historical Society

The Germans from Russia, Historical Society and our Jordan Family Reunion Committee.

The things that Harold loved most in life were: his lovely wife Sally, his Masonic affiliations, his country, and above all he loved his lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

<>< Back ><>