- Date Of Birth: January 6, 1924
- Date Of Death: May 19, 2017
- State: Missouri
An old proverb states: “When an old person passes away, a whole library is lost.” That is certainly the case with the passing of Harold Bond on May 19, 2017. Harold, 93, was a life-long resident of the Cairo-Jacksonville community, and took pleasure in retaining the history of his family and the community and telling those stories to all who asked.
Harold was born January 6, 1924, on the farm which he, himself, would later own. He said they told him it was 20 below zero on that day. He graduated from Cairo High School in 1941 where he enjoyed playing basketball. Following graduation, he drove a truck for Carl Medley’s Jacksonville garage.
In October, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as a machinist during WWII. He was honorably discharged in July, 1946, and chose to return to mid-Missouri. He was employed at the Cairo Garage until 1947.
On August 2, 1947, Harold married Doris Alexander. He joined Doris’s father in farming the Alexander homestead farm until he purchased the farm on which he was born in 1952. Harold completed the Veteran’s Agricultural School at Moberly Area Community College, and was proud of his successful farming business. The farm was sold in the early 1960s.
In 1959 he was hired as Postmaster at the Cairo Post Office. During his tenure, he was a member of and participated fully in the related organizations. He retired in March of 1984.
During the country’s fascination with CB radios, Harold talked with many unseen travelers on Highway 63. His “handle” was “The Old Postmaster.” He also purchased and subsequently showed his 1936 McCormick-Deering tractor at local farm shows and Cairo Pioneer Days. Harold enjoyed creating projects from walnut wood harvested from the Alexander farm, including decorative cradles for both of his grandchildren and children’s rocking chairs for many children and grandchildren in the community. He also carried the major responsibility for the Alexander farm following his father-in-law’s death in 1960. He and his wife owned and managed Bond Mobile Park in Cairo during their retirement.
Harold was an active member of Cairo Baptist Church and served as a Trustee.
Harold is survived by his wife, Doris; his daughter, Marla Hediger and her husband Ron of Columbia; his grandson, Aaron Bond Hediger, Aaron’s wife, Cherith, and great-granddaughter, Morgan, of Goch, Germany; his granddaughter Krista Hediger Jennings, Krista’s husband, Eric, and great-granddaughters Evelyn and Brianne, of Ashland; his sister, Willie Harris, and her husband George of Marshall; four nieces, four great-nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Ruth (Kamp) Bond, his sister, Gertrude Roebuck and her husband Harry, and his parents-in-law, Irvin and Utha Alexander..
