Harold Louis Eisloeffel

Sumter, SC……..Harold Louis Eisloeffel (Retired LT USN) “Ike” died peacefully on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Prisma Tuomey Hospital at the age of 97.

 Born in New York to John and Anna Eisloeffel, he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the US Navy in 1942 at age 17. Ike served his country in the US Navy from 1942 – 1972. After retiring he moved to Lake Gaston, NC where he met and married his second wife Esther W. Eisloeffel.  Having no biological children, her children became “his family”.  In 1997 Ike and Esther moved to Sumter, SC. Ike was a proud 30-year Navy veteran.  If you ever visited his home and saw his mancave you would have been amazed not only by the Navy memorabilia but the numerous handcrafted ship models he built.  Ike was also a lifetime member of the Advance Masonic Temple, Lodge 586. During his military career, he served on the USS Lavallette (DD-448), USS Vesole (DDR-878), USS New Jersey (BB-62), and USS Springfield (CLG-7).   Honored with Navy Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Metal, American Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 10 stars, Korean Service Medal with 2 stars, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 stars. An avid reader until several years ago when his eyes began to fail him, he had a large library of books, most of which are of historical or famous war heroes. On weekends you would find him with his son-in-law Clevie watching sports.  He was an avid football fan cheering on the University of Alabama during college football season.  During NASCAR season he would be cheering on Kyle Larson or Chase Elliott.  College basketball at Duke University (special note, Clevie is a UNC Tarheel fan) and baseball time was NY Yankees.   Needless to say, there were a lot of interesting conversations between those two during sports! 

Survivors are: His step- “daughter” & “son” -in-law Clevie and Teresa Norman of Sumter, SC; stepsons James F. Harwell, Jr. and his wife Teresa and Edward B. Harwell and his wife Connie; Grandchildren, Jennifer N. Boze, E. Bryan Harwell, J. Scott Norman and his wife Christie, Dana Harwell, and five great-grandchildren. 

Ike was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Esther. 

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 12:00pm in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dearld Sterling officiating followed by burial with full military honors at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 11:00am–12:00pm and other times at the home of Clevie and Teresa Norman.

A very special thank you to the cardiologist team at Prisma Tuomey Hospital for their care and compassion over the past few months.  Also, to the entire staff of 2 South at Prisma Tuomey Hospital where we spent most of the past month.  Additionally, the staff at National Health Care where he also spent 10 days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the US Navy Memorial at www.navymemorial.com.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harold Louis Eisloeffel, please visit our floral store.