Harold "Harry" George Sandgren

Harold George Sandgren, 93, passed away on May 7, 2023, in Laurinburg, NC. He was born on April 10, 1930, in Floral Park, NY, to the late parents Thor and Anna Sandgren, with sisters Virginia and Norma. Harry was an amazing husband, father, patriarch, neighbor, and friend. 

Harry attended Sewanhaka High School, where he and his future wife Nancy were high school sweethearts, and later Hofstra University. After college, he served his country in the US Air Force for 20 years. He began his Air Force career as a navigator/bombardier in the Korean War.  During his time in service, he participated in several international humanitarian efforts, including campaigns in the Belgian Congo and in Chile following a devastating earthquake. Following his Air Force career, he and his wife Nancy ran Laurinburg framing shop ArtWorks for 10 years.

After moving to Laurinburg in the late 70s, Harry and Nancy were members of the First United Methodist Church in Laurinburg. For five years, Harry prepared the church every Sunday for services. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed walking almost daily for 40 years, and participated in several Scotia Village Olympics. He was an avid reader, and great supporter of Nancy's long career as an artist and illustrator. The two of them loved to travel, especially out west, including spending an entire summer one year working at Yellowstone Park, visiting Alaska, and flying across the country with his best friend in an antique biplane.

Harry is survived by his wife of seventy years, Nancy Sandgren, his children and their spouses Jeff and Lyn Sandgren, Kathy and Dave Bradford, and Dave and Kim Sandgren, plus seven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren (so far).

Visitation will be held at Scotia Village on Saturday, May 13, from 10-11 AM, followed by a military memorial service at 11 AM.  He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

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