Preston Standlee Harvill

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Tom Phillips on September 9, 2010:

The services for Stan Harvill were held yesterday on a warm day in Southern California. The funeral service was held at the American Martyr's Cathholic Church in Manhattan Beach, Ca at 9:30 AM. The service was conducted by Stan's friend, the Rev. Msgr. John F. Barry, who spoke of Stan as "a man of God", a "man of supremely high intelligence who lived his life with great modesty", and "one who lived the Beattitudes". Stan had been heavily involved with the Stephen Ministry at the church for 17 years, and had ministered to and mentored many. Stan's son, Jay, delivered a very moving eulogy to his father, in the form of a letter to his son, Joshua. I doubt if it left many dry eyes in the large audience of about 200 people, mine included, plus another five priests on the altar. Many people have been touched by Stan, and the large turnout of family, coworkers, neighbors, and friends showed it. The internment was conducted at Riverside National Cemetery next to March Air Reserve Base, at 1:30PM. Stan was accorded full military honors by a very professional USAFR cadre, including the rifle salute, a beautiful rendition of Taps, the flag presentation to his widow, Anna, and a fly-by of T-34's trailing smoke up into the sky. Very moving. The class was represented by Marlowe Viney and me. Grip hands, Tom Tom Phillips 2 SEP 2009

admin