Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Harold “Hal” Watson Strange Jr., 86, of Annapolis, Maryland passed away March 9th with family by his side. Born on December 31, 1935, in Columbia, South Carolina to Harold and Donna Strange, Hal was a humble, kind-hearted, and devoted family man.

Hal led a storied life including his recognition at age 10 as the South Carolina “State Yoyo Champion.”  He excelled in every sport and attended Columbia High School, where he played football and baseball. He took his football passions to Camden Military Academy where he was recognized as one of the nation’s leading prospects. After being recruited by many college football powers, he signed with Coach Frank Howard and played at Clemson University. In 1960 he enlisted in the Air Force School of Intelligence (Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas), where he studied photo interpretation. During his service, he was recruited to play baseball for Offut Air Force Base traveling the country and winning the Air Force World Series. He later earned an invitation to try out for the New York Yankees. He joined the workforce with Aero Service Corporation as a Cartographic Technician in Philadelphia and moved to Washington D.C. to work for the CIA. He played an integral role supplying intelligence during the Cuban Missile Crisis and liberating Vietnam War prisoners from the Hanoi Hilton. He worked with four Presidents during his 26-year career at the CIA/NPIC retiring in 1996. 

While in the Air Force, he met the love of his life, Mary Clare Eggleston and they were married in August 1960. They settled in Bowie, Maryland in 1966 and raised two beautiful children, Melissa and Michael. In his free time, Hal enjoyed playing and watching golf, cooking, reading the comics, boating, fishing, learning the latest technology, watching his grandchildren play sports, visiting with his family during his famous Sunday drops-ins, and “making the rounds” to our houses. He was always the first to arrive and left the parties with an Irish goodbye.

Hal is survived by his beloved daughter Missy Carrier (Joe) of Annapolis, his loving daughter-in-law Carole Ann (Mike) of Davidsonville, his ten grandchildren, Jennifer (Martin) Muller, Amanda (Gary) Phinith, JoJo (Kerry) Cooper, Michael (Michelle), Connor, Brendan, Colby, Tim (Lisa) Carrier, Lauren (Ben) Bernard, Jared (Casey) Carrier, and five great grandchildren, Molly, Gracie, Cameron, Jordan, and Isla. Also survived by his dear friend, Stella. He was predeceased by his parents Donna and Harold, wife, Mary Clare, sister Betty Compton, and loving son, Michael “Mike.”

Friends are invited to celebrate Harold's life on Tuesday, March 15 from 10:30 am until his Mass of Christian Burial is offered at 11:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed on Holy Family's Facebook page by clicking <a href=https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Family-Catholic-Church-Davidsonville-Maryland-199315313428178/>HERE</a>. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

Harold W. Strange, Jr.

Harold W. Strange, Jr.

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