John Freeman Harvell

John Freeman Harvell died Monday, July 15, 2024. He was 92.

He was born on May 14, 1932 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the eldest child of John C. Harvell and Dora E. Harvell. During his childhood he moved several times while his mother served as a nurse. He moved to Fairborn Ohio in High School where he met his future wife, Carol Knight. They were married the week between his graduation from The U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, and his first duty assignment in the Air Force. They moved often during his military career. He graduated with an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1971 they moved to Merrimack and purchased their first, and only, home. He continued to serve in the Air Force until his retirement in 1979. Following that he worked for Analytics until he retired.

He started with the military as a Seaman Recruit in 1949-1950. He actively served after graduation from The U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis in 1954 until 1979. He flew F86D, F102A, and EC-135N airplanes. He also test flew several other airplanes (F100D, F100F, T-33A, T-29, and C-131. He moved from that to being an engineer for Skybolt missile testing, high performance guns, and gun pods. He spent a year as the Air Force Commander on Grand Turk. He supported APOLLO, missile tests and satellite launches. He worked with JTIDS, AWACS, GEODSS, and BISS.

After he retired for the second time, he did several things either as jobs or because he enjoyed them. He worked on engines, did some woodworking, started editing people’s stories and writing his own stories.

At different times in his life he coached youth football, managed Little League baseball and was league president. He loved antique autos, tried his hand at gardening, and made furniture as his wife or children requested. He was a member of St. James UMC in Merrimack.

He is survived by his children: Kimberly D. Gscheidle of Maryland, John K. Harvell of Arizona, R. Kelly Harvell of Maine, and L. Scott Harvell of New Hampshire as well as his three grandsons and three great-grandchildren. He was beloved and will be missed.

Service: There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, 646 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, NH at 10 am on August 7th. Memorial Donations may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, PO Box 895, Merrimack NH 03054 or Visting Nurses of Manchester and Southern NH (Hospice), 1070 Holt Avenue, Manchester, NH 03109

Kindly visit rivetfuneralhome.com to leave an online condolence for the family.