Richard Peterson Harding's Obituary
Richard Peterson Harding, Rick, 58 of Culpeper, VA passed away Friday, September 9th, 2016 at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. He was born at Fauquier County Hospital in 1958. Although born in Fauquier, Rick spent most of his life in Culpeper, graduating from Culpeper County High School in 1976 before attending classes at Germanna Community College and working at Keller Furniture Manufacturing.
A veteran of the US Navy, Rick served beginning in 1982 and was stationed at several locations throughout the country: Orlando, FL, Great Lakes, MI, San Diego, CA, Patuxent, MD and Pearl Harbor, HI. Early in his Navy career, Rick was certified as an electronics technician. Later, he served as a Navy Petty Officer aboard the USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22), a guided missile destroyer in the US Pacific Fleet (WestPac). Rick made several cruises aboard the Stoddert out of Pearl Harbor. Ports of call included destinations on the far side of the globe: the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Thailand, the Philippines and Hong Kong. Rick was awarded marksmanship and Meritorious Unit citations along with an honorable discharge by 1988.
After his military service, Rick worked at a Washington, DC area cable communications company and for the US Postal Service at the Merrifield Distribution Center in Northern Virginia. Rick soon transferred to his hometown of Culpeper as a US Postal Carrier serving local residents for another 25 years. Rick retired earlier this year.
Rick's deep devotion to family and friends was exemplified by his continuing contact with his beloved son and brother and favorite visits with his aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins in the Culpeper area, Charlottesville, VA and in Florida.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents Carolyn Brown Harding and Abb Roger Harding, Jr.
He is survived by his son Tory Harding and his wife, Krista of Boise, ID, and brother David Harding and his wife, Nancy and one niece Grace K. Harding of Maryland.
Additional survivors include aunts and uncles Kathryn Leavell, "Kitty," of Culpeper, Mary Jo Hedrick of Charlottesville, VA, Bonnie and Paul Thomasson, II of Seffner, FL, and Trewitt D. Harding and his wife, Sandra of Spotsylvania, VA,
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 2 pm at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA with Pastor Kyle Balderson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rick's name to the Culpeper County Rescue Squad, Richardsville United Methodist Church in Richardsville, VA, or the Good Hope Baptist Church in Radiant, VA.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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