Harold Alvin “H.A.” Rager, Sr., 85

Click link to view HA’s Memorial Video

Harold Alvin “H.A.” Rager, Sr., age 85, of Middleburg, Florida went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Ascension St. Vincent’s in Middleburg, Florida after a sudden illness. Harold was born August 1, 1939, in Harman, Virginia to Macie Elswick and Edgar Rager. He grew up in Tacoma Park, Maryland and joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17, where he served for four years.

Harold was a loving son, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was married to his wife Sylvia (Bailey) Rager, with whom he shared six children, for 51 years before her passing in 2015. In earlier years, Harold and his family lived in Jacksonville, Florida. He owned his own flooring business, where he laid carpet in the Federal Reserve in Atlanta, Georgia. After the death of his two-year-old son Stephen, the family relocated to Middleburg, Florida where he remained through the end of his life. Harold worked as a plant engineer for 30 years at UF Shands Hospital in downtown Jacksonville until his retirement in 2010.

Harold loved his family, his country, and the Lord. He loved to travel; like a kid on Christmas morning, he would be up and ready to leave for a trip by 4:30 a.m. Harold was an avid knife and coin collector. He loved playing card games, and would make special, personalized wooden boxes for the family to store their “poker change” in. He was skilled in working with his hands, whether at carpentry or mechanics. There wasn’t any person he wouldn’t help; he was everyone’s first call if they needed something fixed or built. He loved to listen to bluegrass and classic country music. He would bake cakes and cook for family gatherings. Harold loved to watch football, and he was a life-long fan of the Washington Commanders, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida State Seminoles. He enjoyed watching science fiction and westerns. He was the sharpest, most active 85-year-old you were likely to meet, and his family joked he would live forever.

Harold was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Middleburg , where he dedicated several decades of his life doing everything from building furniture for the school, painting lines on the football field, working in the food pantry to feed the homeless, counting pennies for vacation bible school, and baking cakes to auction (some of which sold for $500 each!). The church named one of their buildings “Rager Hall” in his and his late wife’s honor. Harold said, “If you ain’t got faith, you ain’t got nothing. If you have faith, you have love, because that’s what love is. Faith is love.”

Harold is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Rager; his son, Stephen Rager; his granddaughter, Halee Mickey; and his great-grandson, Rush Wolf. Harold is survived by his children, Teresa (Chris) Mickey, Harold Rager, Jr., Cindy (Kenny) Avery, Ricky Rager, and Becky Rager; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; as well as many other friends and family members.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Monday, June 9, 2025 in Calvary Baptist Church, 1532 Long Bay Road, Middleburg, FL 32068.  A time of visitation will begin at 1:00 PM prior to services.

Arrangements are under the care of Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery, Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 2335 Sandridge Road, Green Cove Springs, FL  32043.  Family and friends may share their condolences at: www.RHRFH.com 904-284-7720