DATE: Friday, October 3, 1997               TAG: 9710030586

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL                       LENGTH:   31 lines

JAMES E. HARDEN

James Elliott Harden died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997, after a brief illness.

Jim was born in Scotland Neck, N.C. on June 27, 1928, and later moved with his family to Norfolk. He was a graduate of Maury High School and attended the Norfolk Division of William and Mary College (now Old Dominion University). He had a long and successful career in the electric utility industry serving in various positions with Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) and culminating with his retirement as president and CEO of West Virginia Power Company in 1990.

He proudly served his country in the famed 29th Infantry Division and retired after 22 years with the rank of sergeant major. Jim was active in community affairs and served as chairman of the board of directors of the Dare County Tourist Bureau, president of the Manteo Rotary Club and president of the Hinton (WV) Rotary Club and Toastmasters. He was a long time member of the Ocean View Masonic Lodge No. 335, Norfolk.

Jim was a family man in every sense. He was a devoted husband and father and served as an exemplary role model to his beloved family. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Margaret O. Harden; sons, Gary of Chapel Hill and Rick of Roswell, Ga.; daughter, Sandy H. Matthews of Mt. Airy; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the University Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Walker's Funeral Home, Chapel Hill. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu