A lifelong resident of Martinsville, Virginia, Mr. Harding was born in 1929 in the family home on Spring Street. He attended Martinsville High School, suspending his education in his senior year to work with his father (Glenn W.) at Glenn’s Cycle Center; he joined the U.S. Army Reserve in that same time frame. With tension building in Korea and the draft looming, Buddy (as he was known to family) enlisted in the United States Navy.
He married Kizzie Hairfield in 1951and was On-station off the Korean Coast in 1952 when his first child was born. He re-entered civilian life in 1954 and his second child was born later that year. Returning to the “Shop” to work with his father, the family business continued to grow along with Glenn’s young family.
In 1962 Mr. Harding was approached by the Martinsville School Board with a proposal to establish a vocational training program for high school dropouts; in accepting this challenge, Glenn, at the age of 33 returned to school. After securing his GED, he attended the University of Virginia Branch College in Martinsville, eventually earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Old Dominion College in Norfolk and his Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts from Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, North Carolina. In 1964 Glenn was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award as the Young Man of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Martinsville.
Concluding a successful career at the High School, Glenn accepted a position with Patrick Henry Community College to head up the Industrial Arts Program where he continued to instruct and teach until his retirement in 1988.
After a 24 year marriage, Kizzie passed away in 1975. In 1977 Glenn married Juanita Slaydon Bottoms, who passed away in 2003. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Nancy Harding; his brother Robert and his sisters, Vivian Mahoney Martin and Barbara Oehlbeck.
Perhaps, best known for his unmatched knowledge of motorcycles – and in particular his love of Harley-Davidsons – Glenn had a passion for restoration of vintage bikes. He also had an intense interest in aviation and the Space Race of the 1960s, and was an intuitive engineer and inventor, and was twice a Missionary in the Philippine Islands where he shared his knowledge and especially his faith with the people. Glenn was an active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
He is survived by his two children, Robert and Laura Harding; two step-children, Terry Lyon and David Bottoms; 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at McKee-Stone Funeral Home with Reverend Richard Mills officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Roselawn Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research at 1079 Spruce Street, Martinsville, Virginia 24112.
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