Freda Blanche McGuire

Notes:

Blanche McGuire Harmon, 92, of Valdese, went to her heavenly home after a brief illness at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.

She was originally from Beech Mountain Community in Elk Park, Avery County, NC. She was born on March 13, 1917, the daughter, and the last child of George Washington McGuire, Jr. and Safrona Alice Trivette. She was a retired upholstery sewer for Hancock and Moore Furniture Company of Hickory. Blanche was a talented quilter, she loved her family heritage, loved a great story, and she loved her children and family. She was a member of Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church, Elk Park, N.C. She was preceded in death by a son, Steve Harmon, a casualty of the Vietnam War, and two grandsons, Tony Preston Church and Matthew Paul Duncan.

Survivors include her children, Lois Church and husband Chester of Connelly Springs, Wayne Harmon and wife Dolly of Butler, TN, Sam Harmon and wife Glenda of Elk Park, N.C., Larry Joe Harmon and wife Bernice of Morganton, David Harmon and wife Carolyn of Clermont, FL, Sally Harmon of Burnsville, NC, Freddie Harmon and Annette Chapman of Drexel, and Frieda Duncan of Valdese and husband David J. Duncan, pastor of Glen Apline United Methodist Church; she is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday September 2, 2009 at Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church, where the body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Officiating will be Rev. Richard Jones, Rev. Dennis Church, and Rev. David Duncan. Interment will follow at Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Freda married Floyd Harmon about 1935 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . Floyd (son of Samuel Lafayette Harmon and Elizabeth Ann "Betsy Ann" Church) was born on 4 Dec 1914 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; died on 14 Jun 1998 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lois Harmon Church, 84, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully Saturday Aug. 10, 2019. Mrs. Church was born July 17, 1935, in Avery County, a daughter of the late Floyd and Blanche McGuire Harmon. She was of the Baptist faith and formally employed as a knitter with Alba-Waldensian and Burke Yarns.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her Husband: Chester Church; a Son: Tony Preston Church; and a Brother: Steve Harmon. Surviving are her son: Terry Church and wife, Wanda, and their children, Tangena and Preston; her Daughter: Nancy Burns and husband, Mike, and their children, Myles, Amanda, and Kimberly; her Daughter: Jennifer Hubbard and husband, Tim, and their children, Heather and Sarah; her Daughter: Tammy Eckard and husband, Rick, and their children, Robert, Kira and Alexis; and her Son: Daniel Church and his children, Ashton and Cameron. Also surviving are her Siblings: Wayne Harmon, Samuel Harmon, Larry Joe Harmon, David Harmon, Sally Harmon, Freddie Harmon, and Freida Duncan; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A service of celebration was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church, Elk Park, with the Rev. Richard Jones and the Rev. David Duncan officiating. Interment followed in the Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Lois married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Private First Class Floyd Steven Harmon was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, PFC Harmon served our country until February 24th, 1966 in South Vietnam. He was 22 years old and was married. Floyd died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. Floyd was born on January 1st, 1944 in Banner Elk, North Carolina. PFC Harmon is on panel 05E, line 072 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.

Avery Journal, Newland, NC - March 3, 1966: FLOYD STEPHEN HARMON KILLED IN VIETNAM: Pfc Floyd Stephen Harmon, 22, formerly of Beech Mountain and whose family now lives in Valdese, died in Viet Nam Feb. 24, of wounds caused by small arms fire, the Department of Defense reported. Pfc Harmon, son of Mrs. Blanche McGuire Harmon of Valdese and Floyd Harmon of Detroit, has been in the service since August 1965, and has been with the 101st Airborne Division. He was sent to Viet Nam last December. He attended Cranberry High school and was employed by Drexel Furniture Company before enlisting last June. He was married in August to Miss Lois Walsh who lives in Valdese. Surviving in addition to the widow and parents are five brothers, Wayne and Sammie of Winston Salem, Larry of Morganton and David and Freddy Harmon of the home; three sisters, Mrs. Lois Church on Connely Springs, Miss Sallie Harmon of Valdese and Miss Freida Harmon of the home; and a half-sister, Miss Glenda Harmon of Detroit. Funeral services will be held pending arrival of the body at the Beech Mountain Baptist Church. Rev. W. A. Honeycutt and Reverend Hagaman will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

I only knew him through letters. I was a kid who wrote to a soldier and learned about a war far away. I hope someone still thinks about him. I have remembered, and always will. Rena Van Breukelen.

He was the Husband of Mrs Lois Walsh Harmon, 304M Church Street, Valdese, NC, formerly of Butler Tenn. Floyd is the son of Floyd & Blanche McGuire Harmon. He was one of nine children.

He served with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, "Screaming Eagles", USARV.

He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge(CIB), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal.