Harold Pinkerton

Harold Pinkerton, 82, died Jan. 31, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville after suffering a stroke two months earlier. He was born Dec. 29, 1932 in Stilwell, Okla. to Fay and Ellen Sanders Pinkerton. The family, including his brother Carl, moved to Fayetteville in the early 1950s. Harold was drafted into the Army and served during the Korean War in Munich, Germany 1953-55. On the GI Bill, he earned a technical degree in refrigeration from the Okmulgee, Okla. Institute of Technology. With Carl, he founded Pinkerton Air Conditioning in 1958. Even decades later, he could name locations around Fayetteville where Pinkertons installed heating and air conditioning. He continued operating the business with his son, Steve until recently. Rock 'n' roll played an important part in Harold's life. During the mid-1950s, he played guitar in Ronnie Hawkins' band along with Herman Tuck, Bob Keen, and Claude Chambers. The band was popular at the Rockwood Club, Shamrock and Tee Table. Harold liked to tell stories about his days in the band, including when the band entertained Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, The Band, and others. NWA Music Awards honored Harold and his band mates with a lifetime achievement award. He married Mary Snyder on Oct. 16, 1961 and they had two children, Steven Harold and Jennifer Louise. One of Harold's hobbies was building and racing sports cars with his brother. Harold raced late-model stock cars at speedways in Fayetteville, Rogers, and Monett, Mo. during the 1970s. Harold won the Fayetteville Speedway's championship in 1979. After a hiatus, he and Carl took up building and racing IMCA modified stock cars in the late 1990s. The brothers collected other cars, including 1960s Jaguars and a kit-built 1965 Shelby Cobra. Later, Harold restored his first car, a red 1941 Ford convertible. Harold began walking for exercise in 1967 and walked every day often along the railroad tracks in Fayetteville. He also liked socializing and will be remembered by many people, including his caregivers, as a gentleman who was kind to everyone. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his children and brother, a son-in-law Kyle Cook, all of Fayetteville; his former wife, Mary Snyder of Prairie Grove; and his grandson, Henry Pinkerton of Hot Springs. A visitation and remembrance will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville. The family plans a private graveside burial at Fayetteville National Cemetery under the direction of Moore's Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hero's Haven Hospice at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville. To sign the online guestbook visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.