Daniel Spencer Hartness

Daniel “Danny” Spencer Hartness, better known as “Duke” to his family and friends, was born to Viola Pearl and John Henry Hartness, Sr. in Charlotte, NC on September 4, 1953 and grew up the youngest of 6 in North Belmont, NC.  In addition to being the solution-oriented problem solver of the family, Danny was also affectionately referred to as the ‘family mascot’ by his siblings because he was always cheering them up and making them laugh even when times were tough. He was a thoughtful, loyal and enterprising young man. 

Danny acted on his loyalty to our country by enlisting in the marines when he was 18 years old, volunteering to join our armed forces in Vietnam.  He knew his passion, grit and skills could help his country so he laid his life on the line in service to protect it, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corp.  Oorah!

After Vietnam, he returned to his family as a master welder and metal fabricator working on a wide range of metal structures and machines, even Thunder Road at Carowinds.  He eventually broke out on his own as a real estate investor and owner and operator of several small businesses in Gaston County.

He met his wife Debbie at his brother Jimmy’s church.  She was playing the organ while he was envisioning the happy life they could make together with their girls.  After only a month of courtship, their 40-year marriage became a living example of devotion that inspired many.  

Danny was a proud father to Emma Caroline Beck and Amanda DH Allen.  He worked tirelessly to provide for his family a life that struck the right balance between financial security and learning the value of paving your own way.  He understood the importance of not just the result but the lessons along the journey. He enjoyed taking his girls and later their girls on vacations, particularly to Myrtle Beach and traipsing all over the country with his lucky charm, Debbie, on his arm as a VIP guest at various casinos.    

Danny was a beloved husband, brother, father, son, son-in-law, uncle and grandfather who could always be counted on for eliciting a laugh from the group with his jokes. He loved muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, watching western classics like Gunsmoke and Bonanza and a good homecooked meal but nothing matched his love for his wife and his country.  He lays to rest wearing his Timex wrist watch, his wedding band and a tattoo of a soldier that reads “death before dishonor.”  Danny will be honored with full military regalia at Goshen Cemetery after his service at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Mt. Holly at 3pm on Wednesday April 3rd.  The family will receive friends before the service beginning at 2pm.

Danny is survived by his wife Debra Hartness, his daughters Caroline Beck and Amanda Allen, his son-in-law Rob Beck and his granddaughters Syndey Beck, Xander Allen and Milly Allen as well as his brother Jim Hartness and sister-in-law Sue Hartness, Gayle Hartness and Janice Hartness and brother-in-law Ernie Smith.  He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents John and Viola Hartness, sisters Gail Hartness and Wanda Smith, his brothers Roy Hartness and Johnny Hartness and his son-in-law Arthur Allen.

The family would also like to take this public opportunity to extend their gratitude to HomeInstead that helped care for Danny in his home these last few years extending the time the family was able to spend with him.   

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Danny’s memory to the American Disabled Veterans organization at https://help.dav.org.  Semper fi!

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