Born on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1942, at old St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan, Texas, Henry Roland Harding was known as “Bud” by his family. He went to be with the Lord at 1:43 p.m., October 27th. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Henry Clay & Cora Amanda Vernon Harding, his son, Roland Clay Harding and two sisters, Ruby Frankson and Conna Sheffield. Roland is survived by his wife, Sylvia, daughter Alyne, son-in-law Richard B. Grant, grand-daughter Virginia Lorelat, sisters Essie Manther, Leslie Jo Crawford, Jackie Watson and a host of family and friends. He was a 1960 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan, Texas. He served as Co-Captain and was named All-District on the Bronco Co-Championship Basketball team that year, and was awarded Best All-Around Player. He later attended Allen Academy on a Basketball scholarship. Earning an Associate Degree, and went on to graduate form Texas A&M University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. Roland earned his way through college working with various road construction companies and the City of Bryan. He continued his career with the Texas Highway Department in Bryan and Corpus Christi, Texas, with Lone Star Army Ammunition Depot near Texarkana, Texas, and with Parr Block Company in Corpus Christi, Texas. He met his wife of 36 years, Sylvia Jean Parr, in Corpus Christi. They had two children. His daughter and family reside in Houston, Texas. Roland and Sylvia have made their home at Hilltop Lakes Resort City, Texas since 1989. Roland will be remembered for his life-long love of Gospel Music, his joy of working with his hands, his direct and friendly manner and his child-like sense of humor. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 1ST AT Memorial Funeral chapel on College Avenue in Bryan. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 2 p.m. in the chapel. The service will be conducted by Dean Wieghat, pastor of Grace Cowboy Church, Normangee, Texas. Graveside will be at 4 p.m. at Reliance Baptist Church Cemetery off of FM 1179 in Bryan, Texas, with reception to follow at the church fellowship hall at 5 p.m. As an alternate to flowers, family and friends have been asked to consider a contribution to the Roland Harding Memorial Account at Wells Fargo Bank in order to help meet family needs.
(Obituary published Oct. 31, in The Bryan – College Station Eagle, Bryan, Texas)