Harold Smith McTeer Jr. of Seaford passed away peacefully on Jan. 22, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born on Jan. 24, 1931, in New York the son of the late Harold and Amy (Guenin) McTeer. His friends knew him as Hal or Mac.
He graduated from A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon, New York in 1949. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Western Maryland College in 1953 and later took graduate courses in criminology from the University of Maryland. After graduating from Western Maryland College, he enlisted in the Army, rising to the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge. Hal was very proud of his stateside service in the Army where he was an instructor in chemical, biological and radioactive warfare.
Throughout his life, his jobs, volunteer service and memberships in organizations allowed him to use his skills at helping people. He worked for the Baltimore County Juvenile Court as a probation officer from 1955 to 1960 and then became the Superintendent for the General German Orphan Home in Catonsville, MD from 1960 to 1966. He then worked for Baltimore Goodwill Industries as Director of Personnel and Rehabilitation from 1966 to 1968. In May 1968, he began working for Delaware Technical & Community College/Owens Campus as a counselor and from 1988-1990 served as acting Dean of Students. After retirement in 1991, he continued working part time at Del Tech as the evening coordinator.
Service was an important part of his life. Harold was a member of the International Order of the Moose and the American Legion. He served as president and was a lifetime member of the Catonsville Optimist Club in Catonsville, MD. After moving to Delaware, he served as president for the Delaware College Personnel Association (DCPA) and the Delaware Personnel and Guidance Association (DPGA). He was president-elect for Sussex County Counselors Association. He was a scoutmaster and a chairman of the scout committee for the Boy Scouts of America. He was an avid supporter of Del Tech’s baseball and softball teams and taught Sunday School at St. Johns United Methodist Church for many years. He also mentored students through the HOSTS (Helping One Student To Succeed) reading program for the Seaford School District.
He had a distinguished life and achieved many awards including Man of the Year award from the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) in Catonsville, Md., and the Distinguished Service Award from Delaware College Personnel Association. In 1999, he was honored to be inducted in Delaware Technical & Community College’s Hall of Fame. Harold enjoyed bird watching, camping, hiking, fishing, gardening, and setting up his miniature train set every Christmas. He also enjoyed taking many pictures of his family and sharing ancestry stories so that family history would not be lost.
Harold is survived by his wife, Janie Ann McTeer (McCabe); his five children, Bonnie Johnson (Bob), Jeannie Meloney (Bruce), Harold McTeer III, James McTeer (Marla), and John McTeer (Kristin); stepdaughter, Tracy Aeschliman (Bill), as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Amy McTeer; brother, William G. McTeer Sr. and his wife Ruth Ann; aunt, Arlene Jarvis (Guenin); granddaughter-in-law, Katie McTeer (White); his first wife, Byrd McTeer; and his stepson, R.J. Johnson, Jr.
Funeral services will take place on Friday, Feb. 2 at noon with a viewing from 11 a.m. to noon at Cranston Funeral Home, 300 N Shipley Street in Seaford.
In lieu of flowers, a tribute donation can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Harold’s name.
To leave a condolence visit www.cranstonfuneralhome.com.