A. Roger Harding,Jr.'s Obituary
A. Roger Harding, Jr., 85 of Culpeper County died Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at his home. He was born May 16, 1926 in Fauquier County to the late Absaloum Rogers Harding, Sr. and Nora Day Harding. Although born in Fauquier, Roger spent most of his life in Culpeper County, graduating from Lignum High School in 1944 before enlisting in the US Army.
A veteran of World War II, Roger served in the European Theater in 1945 and remained in occupied Germany during 1946. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement while serving in combat. He also served during the Korean War as a Master Sergeant in the US Army Reserves, training troops in infantry combat tactics. Roger has been recognized for his faithful military service by having a WWII memorial brick forever placed at the Wine Street WWII Memorial.
After his military service, Roger began work at the Culpeper office of the Virginia Department of Transportation as a bridge engineer and enrolled in engineering studies at Virginia Tech. He worked at the Virginia Department of Transportation until his retirement in 1991. Roger’s love of swing and jazz music, exemplified by his piano and guitar playing, was only exceeded by his devotion to his wife, children and grandchildren. Roger was a devoted member of the Richardsville United Methodist Church and faithfully served on the Honor Guard for the Culpeper Chapter of the Veterans’ of Foreign Wars until his death.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn B. Harding, and three siblings, Genevieve Timberlake, Geraldine H. Walker and Raymond J. Harding.
He is survived by two sons, Rick Harding of Culpeper and David Harding and his wife, Nancy of Frederick, MD, one brother, Trewitt Delano Harding and his wife, Sandra of Spotsylvania, VA, and two grandchildren, Tory Harding and his wife, Krista of Nampa, ID, and Grace Harding of Frederick, MD.
Additional survivors include nieces and nephews, William Timberlake and his wife, Diana of Alexandria, Dreama Long of Fredericksburg, Raymond Harding, Jr. and his wife, Teresa of Spotsylvania and Trewdee H. Conrow and her husband, Kevin of Harrisonburg, and eleven great nieces and nephews, Kristi Elles and William Timberlake, Jr., R.J. Harding, Kristie Harding, Ethan Conrow, Richard Long, Steve Rose, Joanna Johncox, Kathleen Shiflett, Carter and Chad Timberlake.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel with Rev. Stan Mulford and Rev. John S. Farrar officiating.
Interment will follow in Culpeper National Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Tory Harding, William Timberlake, Jr., Kevin Conrow, Steve Rose, Steve Leavell and Kico Hedrick. Alternate pallbearers will be Robert Leavell and Charlie Hedrick, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Richardsville United Methodist Church, 29235 Richards Ferry Rd, Richardsville, Virginia 22736 &/or V.F.W. Post #2524, PO Box 550, Culpeper, VA 22701.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is handling the arrangements.
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