Haral Pedersen

Haral Nedland Pedersen, Jr. met his Saviour, Jesus Christ, face to face on February 9, 2009 after 2393 days battling liposarcoma. Memorial Service: 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Albury Baptist Church in Burleson, Tx. Haral was born on November 3, 1951 to Haral and Mildred Baker Pedersen in New Orleans, LA , where he spent his youth. He was very athletic and excelled in football, swimming, tennis and wrestling. He graduated from East Jefferson High School in 1970 and then attended LSU in Baton Rouge. He is a Vietnam Era Veteran having served as an Avionic Navigation System Specialist from 1973-1979 in the United States Air Force at Carswell Air Force Base, in Fort Worth, TX. During this time, he met the love of his life, Julie, in the laundry room of the apartment complex they both lived in. They were married on Nov. 4, 1978 and moved into their new home in Burleson that month. After leaving the Air Force, Haral began his career in Research and Development in the Hybrids lab at Gearhart Industries. During this time he completed degrees from Tarrant County College in Electronics Technology and Computer Science. He then went on to work for General Dynamics in the Systems Integration Lab developing new navigation systems for the F-16 . In Jan. 1991 during the A12 lay-offs, he went back to work for Gearhart Industries (which was then Halliburton) where he spent the majority of his career. The past 8 years he has worked as a Manufacturing Technologist in the R&D department of Weatherford International. Haral was a master gardener and when he lost his ability to do that during his illness, he picked up a paintbrush and taught himself to paint beautiful pictures. He also became an accomplished photographer. Throughout his life, he has entertained everyone with his sense of humor, beautiful singing voice and guitar playing. He could also play the piano by ear. But, most important accomplishment of his life was the privilege of raising his treasured children, Erica and Trey(Haral III). Haral was predeceased by his father, Haral Nedland Pedersen, Sr., Nov. 30, 2000 and his mother, Mildred Baker Pedersen on May 12, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Julie Apel Pedersen; daughter, Erica Bower and husband, Clinton; son, Trey and his fiancée, Deanna Dangerfield; brother, William Nedland Pedersen and wife Sun Cha of Hesperia, CA.; his precious granddaughter, Aubrey Lane Bower; fifteen nieces & nephews and a host of in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We'll miss you Pete! Memorials may be made to VITAS Hospice in honor of Team 7 and Doris & Jimmy Seale or to Alsbury Baptist Church. Isaiah 61:3 " and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." NIV