Harold C. Metzger, 88, of Wabash, died at 9:50 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, at Miller’s Merry Manor East in Wabash.

He was born Sept. 6, 1926, on the family farm south of Wabash, to Charles Leslie and Ruth (Bayles) Metzger.

Harold was a 1944 graduate of Somerset High School, enlisted in the US Army during WWII, serving from 1945-1947, and then attended Purdue University one year. Harold moved back to Wabash County and began farming in the spring of 1954, and was a lifelong farmer and lover of the land. He first married Margaret Marie Stouffer in Wabash on May 7, 1950; she died Aug. 14, 1992. He then married Ruth (Reed) Long at Peoria Church on May 29, 1994; she died May 19, 1996. He married Georgia (Shumaker) Niccum in LaFeria, Texas on January 9, 1998. Since 1998, Harold and Georgia spent winters in Weslaco, Texas at the Siesta Retirement Village. Harold was active in a group that played shuffleboard competitively. He enjoyed the game, his partners and the friendships made through competition.

He is survived by his wife: Georgia Metzger, Wabash; three children: Susan Metzger, Evanston, Ill.; Debra Metzger Weitzman, Corvallis, Ore.; and Daniel (Latheda) Metzger, Wabash; four step-children: Tom (Deb) Niccum, Wabash; Tim (Sheri) Niccum, Buckeye, Ariz.; Debra (Randy) Selvage, Avondale, Ariz.; and Lori (Jeff) Hileman, Wabash; six grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; 19 step-great-grandchildren; and his brother: Francis Metzger, North Manchester.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; son: Michael Metzger; and two sisters: Velda Stout and Nova McClure.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with David Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Friends Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorial is Wabash-Miami Home Healthcare and Hospice.