Harry ‘Sonny’ Spaulding, 87, of Vero Beach, passed away on Feb. 27, 2015, at VNA Hospice House.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joan Spaulding; children Barbara Ryan of Roseland, Fla., Karen Knout of Sugar Hill, Ga., Thomas and Diana Spaulding of Roseland, Fla., Elisabeth Spaulding of Cummings, Ga., Dennis Hall of Eustis, Fla., and Sally Tucker of Moultrie, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; 23 great- grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He is predeceased by his son Dale Hall.
Spaulding was born on Sept. 7, 1927, in Etna, N.Y., to Mona and C. Harry Spaulding. He was an only child. He served in the United States Army and Navy from 1945 through 1951. After completing his military service, Spaulding worked for Mohawk Airlines in Ithaca, N.Y. He owned his own Volkswagen repair shop and worked for Ripley Motors in Ithaca.
Longing for warmer weather, he moved his family to Eau Gallie, Fla., in 1964. He worked as a mechanic for the Porsche Volkswagen dealership in Merritt Island. In 1968, he remarried to Joan Siemer Hall. They immediately moved to Roseland, Fla., where he lived the remainder of his life.
After moving to Indian River County, Spaulding went to work for Harbor Branch Foundation where he served as the chief engineer on the Research Vessel Gosslin, then as the cook and later chief engineer on the Research Vessel Johnson. During this time, he participated in the discovery and mapping of the Civil War Vessel, the USS Monitor found off Cape Hatteras, N.C.
In 1982, he and Joan started their own business, Spaulding Sharpening Service in Roseland. He worked there until his retirement in 2003.
Spaulding was involved in Boy Scouts of America from 1969 through 1984. He was the Scout Master for Wabasso Troop 555, “The Triple Nickle,” and was named Scout Master of Year in 1975 by the Gulf Stream Council. He achieved the Order of the Arrow and Wood Badge. His totem was the Bob White.
He was avid gardener, enjoyed woodworking, and loved his family and dogs. He loved his land and the community of Roseland. Spaulding said he “had no regrets and wouldn’t change a thing.”
The family will celebrate Harry’s life at a private gathering on Saturday, March 14. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.
Strunk Funeral Home of Sebastian is entrusted with arrangements.
