Rev. Harold Lee Hubble

Reverend Harold Lee Hubble, age 92, died peacefully at home on Friday, August 16, 2024, in Bel Air, Maryland. Born on June 6, 1932, in Darlington, Maryland, Harold was a Harford County resident for 92 years and was honored as a Harford County Living Treasure in 2004. He was a graduate of the “49ers’ Class” from Bel Air High School. Harold met Geraldean (“Gerry”) Baker on a blind date, fell in love over bowling, and they married on November 19, 1961.

Starting as a stock boy at age 14, Harold began his work career at The Hub department store on Main Street in Bel Air. He concluded his 28 years at the Hub as a Manager/Buyer. This role frequently took him to New York to select merchandise for the Men’s and Boys’ Clothing department. In 1974, Harold felt called to ministry and left The Hub for the full-time position of Minister of Lay Evangelism, Church Administrator, and Pastoral Care at Oak Grove Baptist Church where he served for 34 years. Following Oak Grove, Reverend Hubble went on to serve the congregation of Great Hope Bible Church for 13 years, before his retirement in 2021.

On many occasions, Harold led the invocation for the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate. Over his career he held positions with the Bel Air Merchants Association, Independence Day Parade Committee, Census Committee, was a trustee of the Baptist Home in Maryland, and served on advisory boards for the Harford County Commission on Aging and John Archer School. Harold served on the committee of the Harford County Farm Fair, instituting and leading the Prayer Breakfast for 14 years. Harold was also a past president of both the Bel Air and Aberdeen Junior Chambers of Commerce. He instituted the chaplaincy positions for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County Emergency Operations Center. Throughout his ministry Harold served as a volunteer for the Bel Air Police Department, Harford and Cecil County Fire Departments, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center and was the longest serving Chaplain (40 plus years) for University of Maryland and Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (formerly Fallston General and Harford Memorial Hospitals). Over Reverend Hubble’s career he received numerous awards, certificates, and proclamations for his service and volunteerism.

Harold dedicated his life to the Lord and was baptized at age 19. He became an ordained deacon at age 27 and an ordained minister in 1992. Harold had many firsts to his credit: first minister of lay evangelism in the Southern Baptist Convention; first staff member to come from the laity of Oak Grove; first associational senior adult minister in the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware; first homebound ministry in the state of Maryland; first 80 and over senior adult fellowship group (the Keenagers) and the first widow/er focused fellowship group (the Pacesetters) in Harford County.

Harold was known for his love of roller skating (and speed skating races at the Bel Air Roller Rink), antique cars, playing card games and dominoes, traveling, and eating out with family and friends. He loved going to flea markets and yard sales, and even more so loved holding yard sales of his own which were well-known annual events on Moores Mill Rd. 

Harold always said, “Wherever you are, it is a service of ministry, and the real honor goes to my Heavenly Father.” As quoted by the Harford County Council in 2022, “You would be hard pressed, in Harford County, to find anybody who has visited more sick, more elderly, and more people in our community than Harold Hubble…”. He lived by the sentiment, “People will forget what you said, and forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Harold is survived by his beloved wife, Gerry (née Baker). He was the loving father of Karen (née Hubble) Cage and Alana (née Hubble) McDonald, wife of David McDonald. He was also the cherished grandfather of Bryan Cage and his wife Lori, Tamara (née Cage) Gullion and her husband Matthew, and Dylan McDonald; and the proud great-grandfather of Ethan Cage and his wife Taylor, Emma, Evie, and Deacon Cage; and Jayda, Maris and Graylyn Gullion. The love he had for the Lord and his family was unequalled.

Visitations will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at McComas Family Funeral Home Bel Air, 50 West Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014. A visitation will also take place on Monday, August 26, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at CrossRoads Community Church at 2810 (Twelve Stones) Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 and the funeral service will be held at CrossRoads at 10:00 AM following the visitation. Family and friends are invited to honor and celebrate Harold’s life.

Please share memories, tributes, and stories with the family by signing the guest book below at Guestbook below service details. Those wishing to make a memorial donation may contribute to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at Donate to Tunnels to Towers

There will be a private graveside service.