Harold Dean Capps, 79, of Arcadia, California, passed away in the early morning hours in Arcadia after a long struggle with COPD. He was surrounded by family and friends during his illness and fought a courageous battle until the very end.
Dean, as he was known by all, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma and moved to California when he was 7 years old. He lived on the same street that his future wife, Dorothy Helen Fish, lived on.
He joined the Army in 1955 and served his active duty plus his time in the reserves. He was deployed in Germany during his last tour of duty and married Dorothy upon his return from overseas. After 57 years of marriage, they still lived on the same street in which they had met.
Dean became a welder by trade and worked for Pacific Scientific in Duarte for his last 30 years before retiring in 2002.
Dean and Dorothy began a family and had three sons, Ken, Keith, and James. He loved to take them camping, fishing, and dirt bike riding. His interests as he became older were watching old westerns, enjoying his family, flying kites, and building puzzles. He became known as the "puzzler" and was building them even while in the hospital.
Dean's cousins and their families were also very close to him and he enjoyed their company, whether it be parties, camping, or just playing cards.
Dean is survived by his wife Dorothy, sons Ken, Keith, and James, daughters-in-law Nikki and Jane, grandchildren Nicole, Stephanie, Dusty, and Delainey, step-grandson Gehrig, great-grandchildren Nicholas, Brooklynn, and Evan, sisters Louise and Shirley, and brother Rick. A celebration of his life will be held on October 23, 2016 with family and friends. Email Condolences to www.ChapmanFuneralDirectors.com.