OBITUARY: Harold "Hal" Arthur Onsum

Harold "Hal" Arthur Onsum, 62, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Aug. 27, 2019, in his home after battling cancer. He was born in Bellingham, Wash., to Keith and Betty Onsum. He was a devoted Christian and loved studying the Bible. He mentored many people.

After graduating in 1974 from Hoover High School in Fresno, he served in the Air National Guard and Air Force from November 1975 to November 1987.

Hal moved to Shafter and started his law enforcement career at the Wasco Police Department in 1979 and transferred to the Kern County Sheriff's Department in 1980. After retirement, he went to work for Maple Leaf Farms and Semitropic Water Storage District until 2012.

Harold is preceded in death by his father, Keith Onsum; father, Gordon Graves; mother, Betty Graves; brother, David R. Graves; and brother, K. Eric Onsum.

He is survived by his wife, Tammi Onsum; daughter Heather (Reese) Stoops; daughter Rachel (Eric) Gravin; son Keith (Rachel) Onsum; six grandchildren, Tatum Stoops, Lydia Ingram, Emma Gravin, Hannah Gravin, Hailey Gravin and Andrew Onsum; sister Mary Graves; brother Steve Graves; sister Ruth Onsum; sister Carol Onsum Pierce; and sister Janis Onsum Ghazel

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Ave., Bakersfield.

Memorial gifts may be made to Circle of Life in memory of Harold Onsum to support patient care and family service at Circle of Life, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762 or at GiveToCircle.org.