Harold Joseph Gadway, age 83 of Dry Prong, Louisiana entered eternal rest on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in his home after a brief stomach cancer diagnosis.
Harold was born on February 8, 1943, in Mooers Forks, New York to Irene Lafountain Gadway & Joseph Edward Gadway from Mooers Forks, New York.
Harold is preceded in death by his parents; and his wife of 58 years Sandra K Hunt Gadway.
Those left to cherish his memory are his three younger sisters, Elaine Ashline (Ron) Schuyler Falls, NY, Janet Desjardin (Steve) Vergennes, VT and Joan Miron (Mike) Mineville, NY; two children, Joseph W. Gadway and Prudence A. Engen (Wayne); five grandchildren: Josh Engen (Rachael), Austin Engen (Molly), Katelyn Engen Gibson (Johnny), Dalton Gadway and Bryce Gadway. There are eleven great grandchildren: Kiah Gadway, Eloise Engen, Leland, Engen, Theodore Engen, Lawrence Engen, Thea Engen, Voilet Engen, Lily Engen, Maverick Engen, Kane Eyre, Carson Gibson.
He was raised in Mineville, New York and graduated from Mineville High School. After high school, he attended Miner Agricultural Institute in Chazy, NY for two years. After obtaining his certificate, he worked in the coal mines with his father. Harold joined the United States Air Force 1962-1965 as a Construction Structural Specialist. After bootcamp, he was assigned to England Air Force Base; which he thought was overseas in England. Come to find out the base was in Alexandria, Louisiana where he met the love of his life, Sandra K Hunt. He married Sandra in 1965. They lived in Alexandria, Louisiana for a year before Harold received a hardship early discharge from the Air Force after three years to return back to his very ill Father. Harold and Sandra decided to move to Mineville, NY to help take care of his terminal Father. They had two children while in New York and he was back working in the coal mines.
They moved back to Louisiana in 1972. Harold worked building houses for several years before becoming a Telephone Man for BellSouth. He retired after 27 years with BellSouth/AT&T in 1999.
Harold loved hunting, fishing and gardening. He competed in many fishing tournaments including the Top 6 Bass Fishing. He won several trophies and awards. He owned several bass boats, motorcycles, and jeeps during the seasons of life. He always had big, beautiful garden(s) that he would share his harvest with family and friends. His children did not appreciate it at the time due to picking weeds and harvesting during the heated months or anytime. But he taught his children to hunt, fish and water ski; and don’t forget the mastering of firewood cutting every Saturday when he was home. Harold would take his family back to New York every year or so to visit family. The thirty-six (36) hour drive was nothing to him. Harold and Sandra would take turns driving and the only stops would be at a gas station to fill up and go to the restroom. Maybe he should have been a truck driver, but all the obligations at the homestead prevented that. Between all his extracurricular activities, Harold coached or assisted his son’s baseball and football teams.
Harold worked hard and played hard. Him and Sandra did a lot of traveling. They even traveled to Montana and another year to Key West and all in between. Of course, Sandra was the planner and he was the driver.
When grandkids came along, he was retired. Harold (Papa) tried to attend all their sporting activities. He taught them how to fish and hunt as well. He loved his family and will be missed by all.