Born February 21, 1930, in Caldwell County, LP was the seventh child of nine and was the last surviving member of the family born to the late Newton P. Harmon and Mary Etta Greene Harmon. The family lived at what was called the head of Mulberry, where nearby his father, a skilled woodworker, owned a sawmill which provided a number of jobs for the community. The Harmon children all attended the one-room Cane Branch School in their initial years. Alas, his father died due to complications from appendectomy surgery when LP was only 8 years of age, and soon thereafter his mother moved the family to Chase City, VA, where a relative made it possible for them to earn a living by helping with farming, most of which involved tobacco. Eventually the family returned to Caldwell County, and LP was able to finish 8th grade at Collettesville School before leaving to help support the family. LP had acquired his father’s talent in woodworking, which resulted in his building almost anything from wood--from musical instruments to kitchen cabinets (and in his 30s and 40s he was especially known for the stereo cabinets [entertainment centers] he produced). His woodworking skill naturally led him into the furniture industry where he worked for a total of over 50 years for the companies of Fairfield Chair, National Veneer, and Singer Furniture, specializing in the veneer departments. Along the way he met the love of his life, Wanda, and they were married for 46 years until her untimely death in 1997. At that same time he was faced with the closing of the Singer Furniture plant in which he worked. Fortunately, another door opened to him and at the age of 69 he was able to at last achieve the equivalent of a high school education through the GED program at CCC&TI.
Though woodworking was always his specialty, he was probably even better known for his fishing prowess. He had no greater love than to search for the best fishing spots and try to predict the baits and lures that would produce the largest fish, and fellow fishermen often sought his advice on where to fish and what to put on the hook. His fish fries will be talked about by those who enjoyed them for many years to come.
In addition to his parents and wife, LP was preceded in death by his sisters Junie Bolick, Edna Estes, and Colene Metcalf Bolick Elsey; and his brothers JD, RB, CV, KZ, and AG. (Yes, all of the sons were named with only initials, though some of them acquired nicknames. LP’s nickname was Whitey because of his almost white hair as a child.) A grandson, Shannon Brian Hamby, also preceded LP in death.
LP is survived by his two daughters, Cynthia Weaver and husband John of Boone and Kathryn Hamby and husband Benny of Granite Falls; three grandchildren, Sherri Hamby Moore and husband Ethan of Granite Falls, Chase Weaver and wife Peggy of Hood River, OR, and Jay Weaver of Logan, UT; and three great-grandchildren, Madison and Ben Moore of Granite Falls, and Indigo Weaver of Hood River, OR. He is, also, survived by numerous nieces and nephews spanning three generations; and, he leaves behind, as he would say, “some fine neighbors” in his community.
Due to COVID 19, funeral services for LP Harmon will be private. Officiating will be Reverend Sam Craven, Reverend Jeff Lambert, and Reverend Don Ingle of Union Grove Baptist Church, where LP was a member.
Memorial contributions may be made to Union Grove Baptist Church, 1808 Union Grove Rd, Lenoir 28645 or to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., at 902 Kirkwood Street Lenoir, North Carolina, 28645.
Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to serve e the family of L P Harmon.
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