Harold Melvin Andrews

Harold “Andy” Melvin Andrews, FWE

2/6/25-4/19/19

On Good Friday, April 19, 2019, Harold Melvin Andrews, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 94. His loving sense of humor, love of riddles and jokes, always cheerful attitude and the sparkle in his blue eyes will be missed by everyone. He loved music, dancing, James Darren, Elvis and the United States Marines.

Born a second generation San Franciscan, he was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Andrews, his first wife Constance, his second wife Ouida Jane, his step-son, Norman Orton, his brother Frank Lee and sister Rose Shirley Allred.

Growing up he learned a deep respect for Harry Bridges and the union from his father. He entered the Navy in 1943, and served on the U.S.S Gunston Hall, LSD-5 for 18 months without a civilized port. He watched the initial invasions of: Roi and Namur; Emirau; New Guinea; Guam; Pelelieu; Leyte; Luzon; Iwo Jima; and Okinawa from his station on a 20mm gun. His ship transported Marines of the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions and he grew to love and admire them. Afterwards, Harold felt honor bound and attended Iwo Jima Memorials each year at Camp Pendleton, Washington D.C., Quantico, and then Reunions of Honor held for both sides at the battle site on Iwo Jima. He re-enlisted in the Korean conflict and served on the U.S.S. John C. Butler, DE339, as MM1.

As a civilian he spent 30 years as a building trades journeyman respectfully employed by the York, Borg-Warner, and Carrier Corp in industrial air conditioning. As a civilian Tech-Rep he was honored to have worked on Navy aircraft c arriers -the CVA 63 and the CVA 64, and the nuclear submarine-the SSN Haddock.

After his retirement, he became a union organizer so he could represent the family men who could not risk going into union politics and linked arms with an associate, his dearest friend, Dan Foley who founded South County Labor and the Retiree Club. He marched in protest of slave-like labor conditions against manufacturing giants as Guess Mfg and for the United Farm Workers. In Harold’s home office there was a handmade flag that he believed was carried by another hero of his, Cesar Chavez .

Harold was a longstanding member of Christ Presbyterian Church. He was raised to Master Mason at the age of 84, in the Lakewood Lodge, was 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and he was a member of the Long Beach Valley, of the Golden Trowel Lodge Norwalk, the Orders of the Eastern Star, Long Beach Chapter and Emerald Star of Norwalk.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen, his son Harold Jr. (wife-Debbie, children-Kevin, Jennifer Lawler, and Jason, and seven great-grandchildren), Step-daughter Hesper, Step-grandson-Greg and family, and Step-Grand daughter-Julie and family, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held at

Luyben-Dilday Mortuary,

5161 Arbor Rd, Long Beach, CA,

Wednesday, May 8th from 5-8pm.

A Celebration of Life will be held at,

Christ Presbyterian Church,

5225 Hayter Ave, Lakewood CA,

Thursday May 9th at 10:30am.

A brief ceremony will be held graveside at the

Riverside National Cemetery,

Friday May 10th at 10:30am.