Charles Harned

Captain Charles C. Harned, USNR-Retired, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He passed on September 8th, 2017 and moved to Lakeland, Florida from Vineland, New Jersey in 2004.

Born February 17th, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He graduated from ACHS in 1941, where he was very active serving as Senior Class Officer, and was a three letter athlete in football, baseball, and track. He was selected to the All South Jersey football team in 1940 and received offers for tryouts with the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox before the outbreak of World War II. After returning from military service he was offered football scholarships to the universities of Georgia, Syracuse, Villanova, Penn, and Temple. A severe knee injury at Temple curtailed his college football career. He did go on to play semi-pro ball in the Tri-State League with the Maroons in 1947.

He enlisted in the US Navy Flight Program on December 8th, 1942 and became a Naval Aviator serving in the South Pacific. Harned had a distinguished career in the Navel Air Reserve before his retirement in February of 1984. He received two SECNAV commendations along with several other service medals and awards. As Commanding Officer of NARDIV 933 the unit was awarded the Noel Davis Trophy as the topo division in the entire Naval Air Reserve in 1968. He was one of two Naval Air Reserve Captains to be recalled to active duty during the “Pueblo Incident” in 1969 to work on “force requirements” and “combat readiness” in the event of war with North Korea. Harned was assigned to help develop the “Total Force Concept” (the integration of active and reserve forces). The concept is still being used by the Navy today.

Captain Harned and his family moved to Vineland, New Jersey in 1949. He became very active in civic and social affairs. Some of his community activities included: the first chairman of the Vineland Housing Authority, member of the Vineland Recreations Commission, President of the Vineland softball league, President of St. Mary’s Parish Council, President/Director of the Dolphin Swim Club, President, Johnstone School PTA, President/Director of the Vineland Lions Club, Board Member of the Vineland YMCA, volunteer speaker, New Jersey Bell tell, chairman of various fund raising campaigns, and was awarded the New Jersey Bell “Good Citizen Award” in 1969. Harned started as a lineman for NJ Bell in 1947 and after various supervisory assignments, he retired as the Downstate Safety advisor in 1980. He was also the Director of Claims and Compliance for Bally’s Park Place Casino. As a Transportation Training Consultant for International Training Inc. he trained over 7000 students in the US and Canada. Harned was also a part-time instructor at Cumberland Country College where he taught motor vehicle, security and other safety programs for the JTPA.

He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers-Region 21, a life member of the Naval Reserve Association, life member of the DAV Assn, member of the Retired Officers Assn, Tail Hook Assn, Charter member of the Willow Grove Historical Aircraft Assn, and a Heritage Foundation member.

Harned was a certified NJ swim meet official and retired football official in addition to being the rules interpreter for the Atlantic City chapter of the NJFOA as well as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Intercollegiate Football Officials Assn.

More important to him than all his military, civic and athletic accomplishments was his family. Harned is remembered for his total and devoted commitment to his family. He is remembered by his friends for his gifts of compassion and humor. When asked by his children and grand-children what he most wanted to teach them, he answered; “To care about others, be honest and fair, and never, ever give up.”

Captain Harned will be remembered as a pillar of strength, a loving, caring husband, a father, and a grandfather-an officer and a gentleman. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Lakeland. Captain Harned is predeceased by his wife of 63 years Helen, his kid's Cheri Previti (Matt) Egg Harbor, NJ and Skip Harned (Gaby) Colorado Springs, CO. He is survived by his kids: Helen Ditomo (john) Lakeland, FL, Patti Dinunzio (pete) Lake Mary, FL, Frank Harned (Annie) Castle Rock CO, fourteen grand kids, ten great-grand kids, two sisters; Leila Giannini Northfield, NJ, Teresa Montgomery Somers Point, NJ, numerous nieces and nephews and loving fiancé Irene Rossi, of Millville, NJ and Novato, CA.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, Vineland, NJ.

Arrangements under the direction of Keaton's Redwood Chapel of Marin, Novato, CA.