Harold Greene Lanford

Harold Greene Lanford, 98, died at his home in Walhalla, SC, Friday morning, September 10, 2010. Born on August 6, 1912,to the late Elliott H. and Alice Wilson Lanford, he was the last surviving one of his siblings: six sisters and three brothers, one of whom was his twin. He grew up in the Keowee Community and graduated from Keowee High School, after which he stayed at home to operate the family’s cotton farm. He married Ernestine Stewart in 1942, and they continued to farm, but as it became increasingly difficult to survive “off the land,” they moved to Walhalla in 1943. From there he went to work for the public, making a living through jobs that would stretch over the next 53 years, covering the gamut of manufacturing, retail, sales, management, and services. During this time, Harold and Ernestine moved from the edge of Main Street in Walhalla, to a home they built in the Fairfield Community, where they have lived for the last 60 years. Upon retiring at age 62, he worked part time with Davenport Funeral Home in Walhalla, SC, and, later, Brown Funeral Home in Seneca, SC. This profession, for the next 22 years, gave him the chance to finally work at something he had aspired to since adolescence. For the last time, at 84, he retired, from “public work.” Early retirement gave him more time to participate in community activities, as well as do things he thoroughly enjoyed. From these he never retired. He had joined the Masons in 1937, later became a Shriner in 1962, and was a member of the Walhalla Lions Club for 30 years. In 1998, he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lion’s Club International and in 2008, was recognized as the oldest active Lion in SC. All of his life he was faithful to the church, serving in various leadership roles—even teaching a Sunday School class well into his 90’s. Along the way, he found time to travel a bit, work with his bees and sell their honey, craft things from wood, grow roses, invent useful household objects, and find water with a forked stick. His love of history, amazing memory, and keen wit combined to make him a grand storyteller, weaving tales for his family and friends to give them a glimpse into a life lived for almost 100 years. Harold is survived by Ernestine, his wife of 68 1/2 years. Left to carry on his legacy are their children: Janice L. Comer (David) and Francis Lanford (Lynn); grandchildren: Jon Christian, Zachary (Karen), and LeElaine Comer, Kristy L. Pucylowski (Zane), and Andrew Lanford; and great-grandsons: Jonathan and Walker Pucylowski. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Sunday, September 12, 2010, at College Street Baptist Church by Rev. Ken Reid and Rev. David Comer. Entombment with Masonic Rites will follow in Oconee Memorial Park Mausoleum. Casketbeareres will be Jan Christian Comer, Zachery Comer, Andrew Lanford, Zane Pucylowski, Bob Baltzer and Julian Yelton. The Walhalla Lions Club will serve as Honorary Escort. Memorials may be made to College Street Baptist, 401 South College Street, Walhalla, SC 29691; OMC Hospice of the Foothills, attn: Foundation Office, 298 Memorial Drive, Seneca, SC 29672; or The Walhalla Lions Club, 2214 Westminster Highway, Walhalla, SC 29691.