Darrel Lee Harding

November 27, 1927 - April 3, 2020

Darrel was born and raised in the small town of Center Moreland, Pennsylvania to Jason and Hazel Harding. He was the youngest of 4 brothers, Carnes, Keith and Kenneth. In high school he played football and baseball and enjoyed helping in the family’s general stores.

In 1945, after graduating from Dallas Township High School, Darrel enlisted in the US Navy at the close of World War II. From 1946 to 1947, he served as a Seaman First Class/Duty Gunner on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea, which was the flagship for Admiral Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica (Operation Highjump). For his service in the Navy, he received a WWII Victory Medal and The Order of the Penguin/Antarctic Medal.

After his service in the Navy, Darrel matriculated at The University of Miami (Florida) earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1952. In college, he was a member of the Army ROTC and Scabbard and Blade Honorary Society.

Darrel was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Transportation Corps beginning in 1952 during the Korean War and received the National Defense Service Medal for his service. He continued his military career in the Transportation Corps with the Army Reserves from 1954 through 1987, retiring as a Colonel. For his service, Darrel earned the Meritorious Service Medal.

After completing his active military service, Darrel returned to South Florida in1954 and began a 34-year career at Eastern Airlines. Through his dedication and hard work, he developed and improved the airline’s cargo services division. In addition, he was a global expert and trusted authority on the transportation of biologic and hazardous materials for the airline industry, serving as a senior member of the Air Transport Association and International Air Transport Association. After retiring from Eastern in 1987 as the Vice President of Cargo Services, he continued working as a transportation/shipping consultant with other airlines through 2010.

Darrel met his wife Maureen (Mickie) Moriarty on a blind date and they married in Miami Springs, Florida in June 1952. They raised 3 children, Susan, Lee, and James and shared 65 happy years together (primarily in Hollywood, Florida) until Mickie passed away in 2017. They were true soul partners who gave each other immeasurable love, support, and happiness. Darrel spent his last 2 years living with his daughter and son-in-law in Birmingham, Alabama.

Darrel was a kind and loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He always put his family’s needs before his own, working hard and making sacrifices throughout his life to ensure everyone was safe, secure and happy. Darrel had a smile that lit up the room and always had a positive attitude. He was an avid tennis player, football fan (UM Hurricanes and Miami Dolphins), and NASCAR enthusiast. He traveled extensively and took his family on many memorable car trips and vacations. Christmas was his favorite time of the year and he enjoyed putting up lights and setting up holiday displays with miniature houses.

He is survived by his daughter Dr. Susan Hawkins and her husband Dr. Jeffrey Hawkins, son Lee Harding and his wife Mary Rose Harding and their children, Samantha Jo and Mason Lee, and son James Harding and his husband Ricardo Martinez.

The Harding family would like to thank Phillip Blazer (deceased), Natasha Williams, La’Shavi’a McCurdy, Nicole Crawford, Jennifer Bunt, RN and Dr. Rodney Tucker for their unconditional care, love and support.

A memorial service will be held at a future date, details to follow. If you wish, donations may be given in Darrel’s name to St. Martin’s in the Pines, Oasis Hospice, Encore at Canterbury United Methodist Church and The UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care (all in Birmingham, Alabama).

He will be greatly missed by all.