BRANDON, Fla. – Richard A. Barnhardt, of Brandon, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006.

Born in Salisbury, N.C., on Jan. 15, 1932, Mr. Barnhardt was a son to the late Timothy Barnhardt and Della McDaniel Barnhardt Freeze.

His first wife, Doris, died in 1992. Brother Bobby and Charles Donald also predeceased him.

Richard attended Salisbury (Boyden) High School and graduated from University of Tampa in 1974. He retired in 1972 from the U.S. Army after 24 1/2 years of service at the rank of Major. A decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, his assignments took him and his family to Hawaii, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Germany.

After retiring, Richard and his family settled in Brandon. There they opened Economy Lick and Key. Richard retired from the family business in 2005.

Surviving are wife Carol Barnhardt, whom he married Feb. 2, 1993; daughter Deborah (Debbie) Barnhardt, Brandon, Fla.; son James R. Barnhardt, River-view, Fla.; stepdaughters Joan Russell, Valrico, Fla., and Donna Cardenas, Denver, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law Tom and Vickie Barnhardt, sister-in-Law Betty Curlee Barnhardt, all of Salisbury; and nine grandchildren.

Service: A military service was held Dec. 22, 2006, at Southern Funeral Care, Riverview, Fla. Members of Tampa Bay Chapter of the Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Florida Patriot Guard, Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders Post 138 and Post 352 provided a flag line as family arrived and escorted the funeral procession to interment. The procession was lead by deputies on motorcycles from the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Dept.

Obituary by Summersett Funeral Home, Salisbury.