Major Harry William Sterling

Private military memorial services will be held Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 10:00 am at Fountain Memorial Gardens in Lafayette for Major Harry W. Sterling, Jr., USA, Ret., who went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 11, 2007 following a brief illness. Reverend Mike Walker, Pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church will conduct the service. Major Sterling was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 27, 1927, the only son of Olivia Gaunt Sterling and Harry W. Sterling, Sr. He served in the Western Pacific during WWII following his high school graduation. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950, he became a commissioned officer in the United States Army and served on active duty for twenty years. His peace time assignments were with the 12th Anti-Aircraft Artillery and the Seventh Army in Kaiserslautern and Stuttgart, Germany where he served as a Unit Commander, Staff Officer and Seventh Army Historian. He received numerous awards, most notably two Bronze Stars for meritorious service in Korea (Intelligence Officer) and Vietnam (First Cavalry Division). Upon his retirement he started his second career as an Administrative Supervisor for the Department of Defense at the Army Tank Automotive Command in Detroit, Michigan. He is survived by his college sweetheart, best friend, and wife of 49 years, Mercedes Morgan Sterling. He is also survived by his daughter, Carol Olivia Sterling Mills, her husband, Michael Ward Mills; and three grandsons, Michael Ward Mills, Jr., Andrew Sterling Mills, and Morgan Price Mills, all of Lafayette. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry William Sterling, Sr. and the former Olivia Gaunt. Major Sterling was an avid reader, photographer, and world-wide traveler, but his greatest joy was his family. The family would like to express their appreciation for the compassionate care extended to Major Sterling by the nurses and aides of Lafayette General's Third Floor Post-Op. They would also like to extend a special thank you for the prayers and kindness of so many from the East Bayou Baptist Church family. Personal condolences may be sent to the Sterling family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Major Harry William Sterling

April 27, 1927 - August 11, 2007