Kern County Obituaries

Harry V. Bailey

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

A memorial service will be held today for Harry V. Bailey, vice-mayor of 
California City. Harry, who was a resident of California City since 1967 
died on January 2l, 2001 in Lancaster, CA.

Harry was born in Western Pennsylvania on April 7, 1922. He served his country 
in military service for more than 26 years beginning in November 1941 with the 
U.S. Army. During WWII, Harry was with the 10th Armored Division in Africa. 
Service in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force was his final wartime military 
service and he retired in 1967 as a Master Sergeant.

Following his retirement from active military duty, he began a second career 
at Edwards AFB as Branch Chief; Aerospace Ground Equipment retiring for a 
second time in 1990.

Harry began the American Legion Post 476 in California City and has been 
deeply involved with the operations of the Post.

Active in the early planning of the City, Harry was appointed to the Planning 
Commission, where he served until 1990 and was reappointed in 1995. In November 
1996 was elected to the City Council and has served as Vice Mayor since that time. 
Reelected in November 2000, Harry was reappointed to the same position.

Harry can be partly credited with the presence of the California City 
Correctional Center in Cal City having spent many hours lobbying in Sacramento 
on the City's behalf.

His personal commitment to the City can be measured not only in the days and 
weeks spent in Sacramento, but in the daily office hours he kept faithfully at 
City Hall; absent only to attend meetings outside the City promoting economic
 development and growth for his community.

One of the projects close to Harry's heart was and is the K-9 police dog project.
Active in the first K-9 acquisition about five years ago, through the American
Legion, Harry headed up the campaign to raise several thousand dollars to buy 
the dog, train the Police Officer Handler and equip the K-9 unit. Once again, 
as the Department has a need to replace Kanto, the K-9, Harry has involved the 
American Legion and any other groups or individuals he could, to raise funds 
again for the new dog. Anyone who wishes to donate to Harry's cause for the 
new K-9 is invited to contact the American Legion for details.

Bailey is survived by his wife, Ginger, his sister Francine Durbin, children 
and step children David Bailey, Harry Bailey, Jr., Jheri Bailey Brown, Michelle 
Bailey, Rick Orr, Melissa Kaloian, Elizabeth Beam and numerous grandchildren.

Harry will be sorely missed by all those he has worked with and lived with as 
family head, neighbor, friend and political figure, inside and outside City Hall.

Memorial will be held at California City Middle School at 1 p.m. In lieu of 
flowers, the family requests donations to the California City K-9 fund.

NOTE: Photo At: http://www.calarchives4u.com/photos/kern/