Vernon A. Harding Jr. 87 of Surprise Arizona formerly of Franklin died August 4 in Arizona. He was the husband of the late Jeannette M. (Mitchell) Harding for 53 years until her death in 1998.
Born in Goshen Indiana, September 21, 1919 the son of the late Vernon A. and Beulah C. (Smith) Harding, Mr. Harding lived for many years in Franklin in a home he ad his wife built by hand on Jordan Road. and also in Hawaii.
In Franklin, Mr. Harding ran a business, Harding Insurance and Real Estate. In 1971 he moved to Hawaii where Mr. Harding worked as an engineer at the US Naval Air Station, Barking Sands Kauai. Later he became the chief engineer at Waialua Sugar Mill on Oahu and after retirement he was employed by the State of Hawaii as Chief Boiler inspector where he authored the rules and regulations for geothermal power plant safety.
Mr. Harding returned to Franklin in 1991 where he lived until recently.
You may recall Mr. Harding as the tall slender figure in the Navy whites marching with the Veterans in the Franklin Memorial Day parade. In 2005 Mr. Harding marched with his 2 United States Air Force grandsons and his Navy son-in-law. Through 2006 Lt.Harding participated in the parade.
Mr. Harding served his country aboard ships in World War II and the Korean War. In 1942 he entered the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point NY. After 6 months of intensive maritime engineering study and wartime requirements, Vernon was ordered into action as an Engineering Officer in charge of the below deck “black gang” aboard Liberty Ships to supply the war effort in Europe. In of his war stories” Their Liberty Ship docked in the Persian Gulf to supply the Russians who were in fierce combat with the Germans in the Ukraine. Dock workers refused to unload the on deck railroad cars containing canned milk ans spam. The religious issue. The unloading process was delayed until Allied leaders were confident that the Russians had the upper hand in the Ukraine, ensuring that supplies would feed Allied soldiers. Eventually, orders were given to get the job done and rail cars loaded with food made there way overland to the North. In 1994 Vernon received a commendation from the Russian government for supplying the Russian’s “backdoor”.
Lt. Harding’s service medals in order are Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Medal, Merchant Marine Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Medal, Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Navy Reserve Medal, United Nations Korean Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Service Medal.
Mr. Harding is survived by his childen, Candace B. Murray, Sherie H. Walters, Geoffrey T. Harding and Royce L. Kadooka. He was the father of the late Timothy M. Harding.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Capt. Brooks M. Walters, 1st Lt. Travis H. Walters and Laramee J. Harding and 1 great-grandchild, Sydney P. Walters.
His funeral service with full Military Honors will be held on Saturday August 11 in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin 131 Main St.Franklin at 1:00.
Burial will be in Union Street Cemetery Franklin.
Visitation will be on Saturday from 11:00-1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his honor to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Gift Processing Center, and Box 96268, Washington DC 20077-7487.