Samuel Austin Harford

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Austin Harford, Jr., 95, of Parkersburg, W.Va. died on July 15, 2011 at the Worthington Manor Nursing Home.He was born December 14, 1915 in Hinton, W.Va. and was the son of the late Samuel A. Harford, Sr., and Lillian Chambers Harford.Samuel was a 1934 graduate of Shady High School where he excelled in sports; a 1942 graduate of Morris Harvey College in Charleston, WV; and a 1946 graduate of Boston University Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts. He also received a PhD from West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buchannon, W.Va. in 1958.He served various churches in Massachusetts and West Virginia as a United Methodist Church minister. He retired in 1969 from the ministry of St. Andrews UM Church in Parkersburg. He was a college professor from 1969-1981 at Parkersburg Community College teaching West Virginia History and Religions of the World. He was an active member of the Lions Club and the Wood County Preservation and Historical Society.Samuel is survived by daughters, Mary Lynne Spader (Roy), and Kathryn Washburn (George) of Parkersburg, W.Va.; sons, Samuel A. Harford, III (Michelle) of Conyers, GA, and John T. Harford of Decatur, GA. His grandchildren are Kristina Spader, Joseph Spader, Robert Washburn, Jill Helbling, Christopher Harford, Melissa Cazier and Samantha Harford. He also is survived by 14 great-grandchildren.In addition to his parents, Samuel was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Geraldine Harford, one brother and three sisters.Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 20,2011 at the Lambert Tatman Funeral Home, 400 Green Street, Parkersburg, W.Va. with the Rev. Dr. Thomas McDowell officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens in Parkersburg. Visitation will be from 12 Noon until 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.