Lester Amos Harding, Jr.

Lester Amos Harding, Jr. passed away peacefully Monday, March 14, 2016, in Sneads Ferry.

He was born on November 6, 1933, to Lester Amos Harding, Sr. and Cora Hicks, both of whom were from Fayetteville, N.C. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force as an Air Policeman and served in occupied Germany in the early 1950s. Later, he returned to Fayetteville where he married his sweetheart, Edith Faye VanLandingham, in 1956. 

As an Airman in the U.S Air Force, he and his wife lived an exciting and adventurous life traveling the world visiting and living on Terceira Island, Portugal (also known as the Azores), Turkey, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and France. During his many adventures, he was a devoted father raising three children, Lester A. III, Mark, and Teresa. 

Lester retired at the rank of Technical Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in 1971. At that time, he continued his education and successfully completed his degree at Fayetteville Technical Institute in Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Systems and Repair. Afterwards, he managed real estate property in Fayetteville before moving to Sneads Ferry in 1991. 

He is survived by his children Lester A. Harding III, Mark Harding and Teresa Singletary; their spouses, Sherry Harding, Terri Harding and Lavern Singletary; seven grandchildren, Terrie Harding, Lester A. Harding IV, Lauren Harding, Julie Farmer, Mark Harding Jr., Marla Bryan, and Clinton Singletary; and 13 great-grandchildren, James Harding, Lillie Harding, William Harding, Layla Hill, Haley Harding, Madelynn Harding, Lester A. Harding V, Mitchell Farmer, Hank Farmer, Grant Harding, Gwenyth Harding, Miriam Bryan, and Sylvia Bryan. 

He is also survived by his sister Wynona and brother-in-law Dick Blount, nephews Ted and Tim Blount as well as his brother-in-law Wilhelm VanLandingham and niece Michelle Swart. He is survived by close friends Katherine Sykes and Al Milliken, too.

Lester was adventurous, the life of every party, and he always had a great story to tell. 

A memorial service to be held at 11 am Thurs. March 17, 2016 in Rogers and Breece Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:45-10:45 am prior to the service.

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