Varner

Harold Lloyd Varner was born March 11, 1934, in Milam County, Texas, to parents Frank Varner Jr., a farmer and disabled World War I veteran, and Eunice McLean Varner, a schoolteacher. He passed away Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024.

He grew up in Southern California and central Texas, graduating from Temple High School in Temple, Texas, in 1951. There he met fellow classmate Vivian Jean Teer, whom he married in December 1951.

Because of the ongoing Korean War, he entered the U.S. Air Force immediately upon graduation and served in photography. Upon discharge, he attended the University of Texas, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy, initially practicing community pharmacy in Houston. He later obtained a Master of Science degree in hospital pharmacy from The Ohio State University along with a residency in hospital pharmacy practice from the Ohio State University Hospitals.

He reentered the Air Force as a pharmacy officer during the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring as a lieutenant colonel with 25 years service. Because he came from a family of World War I and World War II combat veterans, he always rued the fact that he never went to either Korea or Vietnam combat zones during those war years. He was actually on orders to become pharmacy director of the 1,000-bed air evac hospital at Cam Ranh, Vietnam, but the position was downgraded, so the orders were canceled. He always said, “Times are pretty bad when during wartime a captain is too much rank for a position.”

After Air Force retirement, he continued hospital pharmacy practice, first in Arizona and ultimately retiring from Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was a past member of a number of local and national pharmaceutical organizations, including the national pharmacy honor society. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Missouri City, Texas. He enjoyed travel, reading, especially history, and spending time with his “girls,” grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Vivian Jean Teer Varner; and is survived by three daughters, Kimble Michele Lemen of Canton, Ga., Karen Elaine Phillips of Cabot, and Kelly Ann Young of Georgenborn, Germany; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

VARNER — There will be a graveside service for Harold Lloyd Varner, who died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, with interment at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, with full military honors at a future date.

Arrangements were entrusted to FOX FUNERAL HOME, Saxonburg.

For more information, please visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.