Harold John Happe

ARDEN-Harold John Happe, 82, of Arden, NC, died on Thursday, June 27, 2013 after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in the Bronx, New York, to the late Harold John Happe, Sr. and Anna Elizabeth Smith.
Mr. Happe grew up River Edge, NJ and graduated from Hackensack High School, Hackensack, NJ. He served 4 years during the Korean War and was stationed with the Army Security Agency but assigned to the National Security Agency. He attended Newark College of Engineering and RCA Institute of Technology. The last 15 years of his career he worked in the aerospace industry as Product Assurance Manager for Smith's Industries until he retired in 1993 to Flat Rock, NC. In 2006, he and his wife moved to Ardenwoods retirement community in Arden.
He is survived by his wife of 33 Elsie M. Happe, a sister, Joyce Ann Jones of West Lebanon, NH, two sons, David C. Happe of San Diego, CA and Mark J. Happe of New York City, NY, and a daughter, Meredith Ann Bernados of Coronado, CA; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two stepdaughters, Linda Cornell of Chester Springs, PA and Elaine Watkins of Healdsburg, CA.
Mr. Happe was a member of The Lutheran Church of the Nativity in Arden and enjoyed square dancing with his wife for 25 years.
Private memorial service and burial will be held with military rites for family members at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.
A contribution in his memory may be made to Lutheran Church of the Nativity Memorial Fund, PO Box 208, Arden, NC 28704, or Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family and the memorial register is available at grocefuneralhome.com.