Mr. Harold "Hal" Wayne Webster

June 07, 1930 - January 03, 2014

Harold "Hal" Wayne Webster, 83, of Columbus died January 3, 2014 at his residence.

Born June 7, 1930 in Jennings County, he was the son of Herschel C. and Mary Alice Bertram Webster.

Harold attended St. Mary's School in North Vernon and graduated from North Vernon High School in 1948. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from Indiana University on June 16, 1952. He entered the United States Air Force in September of 1952 and was honorably discharged on October 25, 1966 as a Captain. During his tour in the Air Force he was based primarily at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, where he was a flight crew member on an A-26 Invader Night Recon Bomber. Upon entering the Air Force Reserves, he was a flight crew member of the C-119 "Flying Boxcar". He served in Germany in 1954 for one year. After leaving active duty, Air Force, Harold returned to North Vernon and joined his father in managing Webster Chevrolet. He then moved to Brownstown and opened his own Chevrolet dealership which he later sold to his friend, Bob Thomas. It was during this time he decided to attend law school at the University Of Louisville School Of Law. He earned his Juris Doctor from U of L on December 20, 1969, and was admitted to the practice of law in Indiana and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on September 16, 1970.

Harold returned to North Vernon to practice law until around 1996 when he "semi retired". He served as Deputy Prosecutor under Ron Davis and Brad Kage from 1979 to 1992. He was an iconic figure in the former North Vernon City Court. He practiced law with his son Jon from 1982 through 1996.

Mr. Webster was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He enjoyed athletics, particularly snow skiing, flying, scuba diving, swimming, tennis, and golf.

He is survived by his wife, his sons, Chris (Kate) Webster, Jon (Julie) Webster of North Vernon, and Matt (Eileen) Webster of Madison; five grandchildren, Ellie Bright of North Vernon, Annie Stock of Indianapolis, Jonathan Webster II of North Vernon, Cassidy, and Cody Webster of Madison; two great-grandchildren, Will and Thad Bright of North Vernon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Mary Alice Webster, his sister, Joan (Webster) Gerard, a niece, Rebecca Lieberman; great nephew, Jeffrey Foley; his former wife, Joan Wallace.

Funeral Information

A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11:00 AM Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in North Vernon. Rev. Jonathan Meyer will officiate. Interment and military graveside rites will be in Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM Monday at Sawyer - Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. A Rosary service will be conducted at 3:30 PM. at the funeral home.

Donations Information

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, or St. Mary's School.