James “Harold” Lloyd went to the Place of Promised Rest on Monday, February 20th , 2023 at his home in New Braunfels, Texas at the age of 85.
He was born on January 16th, 1938 in Paint Rock, Texas to Leonard E. Lloyd and Alma (Hoffman) Lloyd. He spent his childhood on the family farm at Eldorado, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1956.
He joined the U.S. National Guard “U.S. Army Reserves” immediately after graduation. Upon his release from training, he moved to Batesville, Texas to attend to a family farm.
Beginning in 1957 while operating the farm, he attended Southwest Texas Junior College graduating in 1959.
He was married to Helen Berry of Uvalde on December 30th, 1961 in Uvalde, Texas. Harold began his own farming business, apart from his family, in 1966 and loved his career until he took early retirement in 1998. He began serving on local ag-related and 4-H boards early in life. Through the years, he was also a leader of various 4-H livestock projects. He served several years on the Batesville ISD School Board and later served two terms on the Uvalde ISD School Board.
In retirement while living in Lubbock, Texas, he continued to experience health problems resulting in a heart transplant at
St. Luke’s Heart Hospital in Houston, Texas during the summer of 1999. He was grateful for the extreme care that he received through the years from the St. Luke’s heart transplant team. He
also knew the sacrifice that one family made by having their loved one’s organs donated; The Donate Life TX program
allowed him to enjoy an additional 23 years of life. As a result, he became an advocate for organ donation. Moving to be near family in the San Antonio-Austin area in 2004 was of paramount importance for his continued transplant health.
His favorite hobbies included fishing with friends and family, leisure RV travel, and trying his hand at an array of woodworking projects.
Preceding him in death were his parents Leonard and Alma Lloyd; son, Duane Lloyd; sisters, Retha Hasty and Wilma Logan; and brother, Earl Lloyd. Harold is survived by his wife of 61 years Helen Lloyd; son Rodney Lloyd and wife Cathy of San Antonio; son Leslie Lloyd and wife Julie of Granbury; and daughter Angela Vlasak of College Station. Other surviving family members include his grandchildren Josh Vela, Julien Vela and wife Taylor, Garrett Lloyd and wife Emily, Kyle Vlasak,
Justin Lloyd, Savannah Vlasak and Reagan Lloyd. He is also survived by one brother, David Lloyd and wife Pat of Eldorado.
Harold was a member of the Church of Christ for 65 years and his walk with Christ meant a great deal to him throughout his life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
