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Rev. Harold A. Ammons, a retired Elder, died Dec. 23, 2011, in Baltimore, five days short of his 86th birthday. He had complications from dementia. The Rev. Sheridan Allmond officiated at a funeral Dec. 29, at Violetville UMC, where he was pastor emeritus. The Rev. Ann Adams participated.

Ammons was drafted in World War II during his senior year of high school, and finished after discharge from the Army in 1946. He served in Europe during the closing months of hostilities and was then stationed in the Philippines.

Ammons was a talented singer. He sang in Glee Clubs, choirs and operettas throughout high school and college. He received his BA in sociology and English in 1950 from what is today Lycoming College. He graduated from Westminster Seminary (Wesley Theological Seminary) with an M.Div. in 1953 and was ordained an Elder that year.

While a seminary student in 1952, he was appointed to Back River in Essex, where he stayed four years. In 1956, he was appointed to Trinity-Brook Hill in Frederick, then in 1959, to Brookfield-Immanuel in Brandywine. From 1964-68, he served Asbury in Arnold. In 1968, he was appointed to Violetville UMC and served there until 1980, when he went to Hillsdale-Chatsworth in Baltimore (now called Martin Luther King Memorial UMC), followed by Waverly in Baltimore. His last appointment was to Melville Chapel in Elkridge in 1985. He retired in November, 1990, then in 1991 returned to Violetville as a volunteer assistant.

The choir director at Union Square Methodist Church in Baltimore, where he grew up and was active in all aspects of church life, discovered his voice and paid for lessons at Peabody Preparatory School. Ammons always felt his beautiful tenor voice was a gift from God and it opened many doors for him throughout his life. He continued to share his love of music by singing in all the choirs of the churches he served.

He and Betty Jane Beyer, with whom he had grown up at Union Square Church, married in 1957, after dating off and on for 15 years.  They had two sons.　

Survivors include his wife and sons, Richard Beyer Ammons of Baltimore, and Phillip Leonard Ammons of Norwich, Connecticut.

Condolences may be sent to Betty J. Ammons, 1125 Gloria Ave., Baltimore., MD 21227.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Violetville UMC, PO Box 24089, Halethorpe, MD 21227.