Vincent Lardner, Jr.

Vincent J. Lardner Jr., 92, of Los Lunas passed away on Thursday, December 7th, 2023. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois M. Lardner (Layer) (married for 50 years); his oldest son, Timothy J. Lardner; step-daughter, Stacy Toal; step-son-in-law, Jeffrey Evoy; two grandchildren, Nicole Lardner and Christopher Lardner; and sister, Margaret Mary Schomers. He is survived by his second wife (married 15 years), Mary Catherine Lardner (O'Rielly); daughter-in-law, Janice Lardner (wife of Timothy); daughter, Cindy Mechenbier and her husband, John; son, David Lardner and wife, Barbara; son, Scott Lardner and his wife, Chris; son, Vincent (Jim) Lardner III and his wife, Daphne; son, John Lardner and his wife, Tina; step-daughter, Karrie Toal-Mullane; step-son, Kelly Toal; step-daughter, Maureen Evoy; and step-son, Brian Toal and his wife, Christina; along with his grandchildren, Michelle (Michael), Michael (Nicole), Britney, Jeremy (Rani), Jason (Tracy), Richelle (Jeremy), Bradford (Alex), Aaron (Caitlin), Danielle (Peter), Caitlin, Sean, Avery (Linda), Ryan, Abigail, Rachel (Javier), Shelby, Tyler, Sarah (Sean), Ashley, Megan, Heather (Aaron), Katelynn, Andrew, Sean, and Kelsey; and 25 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind brother, Gene Lardner; sister, Shirley Murdoch; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and loving friends of Mid-Valley Airpark.

Vince was born to Vincent Lardner, Sr. and Margaret Lardner(Cathcart) on December 11, 1930 and grew up in upstate New York near Buffalo. He served two years in the Army during the Korean War and came back to Lockport, NY where he met Lois M. Layer. In 1957 they moved to Colorado Springs where he worked as a mason on various buildings at the Air Force Academy. They moved to Albuquerque in 1958 where he worked as a mason. Vince pursued a private pilot's license and flew small airplanes until the age of 85. He also enjoyed collecting antique cars, taking family and friends on rides in them around the airpark, and was often seen at local car shows and air shows.

Along with raising an active family of 6 children, Vince and Lois started Rocky Mountain Stone in 1963, while concurrently running a commercial masonry contracting business, Lardner Masonry. In 1983 he closed down the masonry business to pursue a new venture with New Mexico Travertine, a state-of-the-art natural stone processing facility in Belen, NM. His 5 sons worked in the businesses that have provided landscaping materials and natural stone products throughout NM, the US, and worldwide for the past 60 years. His passion for building, his incredible work ethic, and doing things right the first time, still drives these businesses today.

Vince's biggest passion in life was his family. He enjoyed every holiday gathering, traveling to many destinations, and visiting old friends and new friends throughout the United States. Since living in Los Lunas, he was a devout Catholic and follower of Christ at San Clemente Parish where he supported the building process for a new church with stone work and he created the grapevine stained glass windows behind the altar. He graduated from Lockport High School in 1949, attended Buffalo State Technical Institute, and was a Life Member of the Benevolent Order of Elks for more than 51 years. He will be missed for his good humor, his generosity and quiet leadership, as well as his unrelenting determination to win every game of bid pitch he ever played. 4 and out!

There will be a viewing on Sunday, December 17th, at 5:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas followed by a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 18th, at San Clemente Catholic Church, 244 Luna Ave. SE in Los Lunas. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE, in Albuquerque after the mass.