Harold L. Twaddle

Harold L. Twaddle, 89, passed on to meet his Savior and be reunited with his beloved wife, Violet, on March 15, 2021.

Harold loved to entertain!  He proclaimed to be blessed with the God-given talent to make people laugh. His famous quote was “When you are laughing, there is not another thing on your mind.”  Harold ventured into magic when he was nine years old. At the encouragement of his mother, he spent a great deal of time practicing and performing.  He became known in the magic world as The Great Twaddell. He joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M) in 1949 and was a longtime member of Ring 68 in Toledo, Ohio. In the 70’s, Harold joined the I.B.M.’s Sick and Convalescent Committee. He took over as the committee’s chair in 1980 and produced the Hav-a-Laff bulletin that contained jokes and stories to provide well wishes and cheer to I.B.M. members. Harold continued to chair the Sick and Convalescent Committee for nearly 40 years. Due to his hard work and dedication to the I.B.M., he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership. He was also deemed a Member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior in 2009. In June of 1992, he was honored with a cover photo on the I.B.M.’s The Linking Ring magazine.

Bedsides magic, he had many other hobbies. He also enjoyed beekeeping and was an avid woodworker who made treasured family heirlooms. Family and friends knew him as “Mr. Fix it”.

Harold was born in Alliance, Ohio, to Frank and Kathryn (Ketler) Twaddle on October 20, 1931. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951. During his enlistment, from 1951-1955, he toured Japan, Guam, and the Philippines with an entertainment group performing for U.S. troops. Upon his return to the U.S., he chose to go to linotype school in New York City where he learned the trade of printing and linotype operating.

In 1956, Harold married Violet (Hall) and they resided in Whitesville, WV, for a time. In 1959 they moved to Toledo, Ohio where Harold took up employment with The Toledo Blade Newspaper in 1960. He continued working for The Toledo Blade until his retirement in 1993. They were longtime members of Messiah Lutheran Church in Toledo. Harold and Violet raised three children, Terri, Jeffrey, and Michael.

While living in Toledo, Harold continued performing as a magician with a special fondness for gospel magic. In the mid 1960’s, his magic morphed to include a clown persona, Homer the Clown Prince of Magic. Over the years, Homer performed at many venues, events and parties. Before returning home after a day of clowning, Homer would sometimes stop at area hospitals to visit the children’s ward. He always had a smile and laugh to share, a joke (or a few dozen), a trick, and a pocketful of balloons. Spectators often had magical coins pulled from their ears. Regardless if he was Harold, The Great Twaddell, or Homer, he never met a stranger.

Harold will be greatly missed by his family: daughter Terri (Ron) Balduf of New Smyrna Beach, FL, son Jeffrey (Patricia) Twaddle of Franklin, TN, and son Michael Twaddle (Patricia Hernandez) of Toledo, OH; seven beloved grandchildren: Joshua (Maria), Jennifer (John DiLorenzo), and Jerico Balduf; and Jacob (Kylee), Jordan, Jessica and Jackson Twaddle; and 4 great grand children: Reid, Aubrie, and Tanner Twaddle; and Jarrett DiLorenzo; and brother, Alan (Karen) Twaddle. Harold is preceded in death by his wife, Violet; infant daughter, Denise; his sister, Delores Mooney-Bartlett; and brother, Dennis Twaddle. He will also be missed by extended family and numerous friends from around the world.

His family is planning a celebration of life to be held sometime this summer.