Harry W. Rader

He was a retired iron worker and farmer.

Mr. Rader was the oldest member of Cedar Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he regularly attended as long as his health permitted.

Harry was born in his parent’s home in the heart of Dulaney where he faithfully attended Rader’s Chapel Church/Salem UM for over 50 years. He had been a trustee of Rader’s Chapel Church most of his life and was an honorary trustee at the time of his passing.

He attended Glenwood School where he would later return to coach and play on community sports teams. He graduated from Greeneville High School in 1939 where he proved he was a very talented athlete in several sports and was Captain of the basketball team his senior year.

He was a member of the greatest generation for he served his country during WWII. He enlisted in the Army in January 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia. He was a Sergeant in the Battery B 469th Anti-aircraft Artillery AW Battalion and Chief of Section 2601 where he served as a rifle marksman.

He was stationed in several locations including Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Southern Philippines, Luzon. He and his unit had received orders to report to Japan, but two weeks before they were to arrive on Japanese soil, the atomic bombs were dropped which canceled those orders.

He enjoyed sharing his life experiences with other people. One of these experiences was seeing General Douglas MacArthur arrive on Layte Island where Harry was stationed in the Philippines. The two men spent the night just feet apart. MacArthur slept in a tent while Harry was in a fox hole outside the tent on guard duty.

He was discharged from the service in December 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. For his service he received many decorations and citations including the WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct medal, America Theater Ribbon, AP Theater Ribbon with 4 Bronze Service Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and many others. In 2014 he also received a Quilt of Valor.

After his service, he returned to school on the GI Bill. He specialized in agriculture which assisted him in becoming a very successful farmer for the many decades.

He was a hard worker all his life. He worked in the construction field as an iron worker for over 35 years. He was employed by TVA and a variety of construction companies, performing the iron work in numerous building and other structures, including Freedom Hall in Johnson City and the highway bridges along I-81. He also helped build an addition on both the Rader’s Chapel and Cedar Hill CP Churches. After retiring as an iron worker, he continued farming for many more years.

During his life he also excelled as a community leader. He was a Charter and Life Long Member of the Andrew Johnson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 1990, a ‘Free and Accepted Member of the Masons’ Lodge # 463 for almost 70 years and served as President of the Glenwood Ruritan Club. He was also the only remaining living charter member of the formation of Glen Hills Utility Water District at the time of his passing.

He also married, raised a family, assisted in caring for his elderly mother and continued to remain very active in the church. Up until last year, he could still be seen riding his lawn mower, mowing his yard.

He loved his sports and followed the teams of the Atlanta Braves, UT Vols and Lady Vols, and the Greeneville High School Devils women’s soccer and football teams. He was able to hear the final score of the Devils football championship game just before he passed.

Standing a 6’3” he was known as a loving, compassionate, caring, devoted, faithful, gentle giant. He accomplished many things in his life, but he was better known for his simple demonstration of his strong Christian faith.

He began each morning in prayer and studying the scriptures. He believed in the Golden Rule and he was a prime example of the Serenity Prayer for he accepted the things he could not change, he had the courage to change the things he could, and he did possess the wisdom to know the difference.

He was pillar in his community for he had accomplished many things in his life. He knew however, that his identity was not determined by his many accomplishments, but rather was given by the “One” who created him. A few of the last words he ever spoke were, “I love everybody.”

Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law: Brenda Rader of the home who was his caregiver for

many years, Wanda Hatfield and husband, Todd, of Decula, GA; a son: Larry Rader; three

granddaughters: Madison Hatfield, Megan Hatfield of Dacula, GA, Adrian Rader of Greeneville;

two grandsons: Geoff Hatfield of Decula, GA, Richard Rader of Nashville; brother-in-law and wife:

Lowell and Ruby Johnson of Marshall, NC; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and too many close friends to mention.

He was the son of the late Charlie and Martha Gregory Rader and was preceded in death by his wife,

Agnes Johnson Rader; four brothers, Lyle, Willis, Ray and James Rader; one foster sister, Mae Gregory

Moore.

The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 pm Tuesday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

A Masonic Service conducted by Mosheim Masonic Lodge # 463 F&AM will follow visitation at 8 pm in the funeral home chapel.

The family will receive friends again Wednesday from 1-2 pm preceding the 2 pm funeral service in the Kiser-Rose Hill Chapel. Rev. Sam Smith and Rev. David Brannock will officiate.

Interment will follow at GreeneLawn Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be John Eiskamp, Mark Shelton, Gene GeFellers, Geoff Hatfield, Terry Rader, Steve Rader and Cliff Fluharty.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of Cedar Hill CP Church.

The Greene County Honor Guard and the Tennessee National Guard will conduct a military graveside service.

Those wishing to make a monetary donation may send it to Rader’s Chapel Church and Cemetery, c/o Brenda Rader, PO Box 441, Greeneville, TN 37744.