Alphonsus Harding

Al graduated with honors from Irish Christian Brothers Secondary School in Dublin, Ireland. He enlisted in the Irish Army in Dec 1953. He was a member of the battalion competition rifle team 1955 to 1958. Upon his discharge in Sept 1958, he immigrated to the United States in Nov 1958. He enlisted in the USAF in Jan 1959 in Newark, NJ in the Personnel career field. He was stationed at Ashiya, Japan and Naha AB Okinawa from 1959 to Aug 1964; McQuire AFB, NJ from Jun 63 to Aug 1964; MacDill AFB, FL from Aug 1964 to Sept 1972; RAF Lakenheath, England from Sep 1972 to Jan 1976; Hurlburt Field, FL from Jan 1976 to Aug 1981; Randolph AFB, TX from Aug 1981 until his retirement 1 Feb 1989. He served as Personnel Readiness and Deployment Manager and was the DPMD Personnel Data Systems Senior Enlisted Representative. He married his wife, Janet English on May 22, 1965.
He played and coached varsity soccer at MacDill AFB, coached the female soccer team at RAF Lakenheath, and coached Little League Soccer at Hurlburt Field, FL.

Upon his retirement, Al worked at Gramm Tech as an account manager for 2 years and later worked at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich grading student papers.

Al loved animals, soccer, the Dallas Cowboys, the San Antonio Spurs, traveling all over the world with his wife, and was an avid reader. He was known as "Fono" to his family and friends in Ireland.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert W. Harding and Eileen M. Harding; brother Adrian and his wife, Phil Harding; and sister Pamela Barry.
Al is survived by his wife, Janet, and four children: John Harding of San Antonio, TX, Pamela Harding of Marion, TX, Jeanne Harding of Lake Jackson, TX, and Mary Staton of Deatsville, AL; and four granddaughters: Eileen Douglas of New Braunfels, TX and Sarah, Brianne, and Hope Staton of Deatsville, AL. He is also survived by his brothers Albert Harding of Dublin, Ireland, Austin Harding of Leicester, England, and his sister Pat Camplin-Smith of Sitio da Torre, Portugal.

The visitation will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 at the Schertz Funeral Home from 4:00PM-8:00PM with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00PM. The Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 11:30AM. Interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery 1:15AM.

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