Vincent Lardner Jr.

Vincent Lardner Jr. 

1930-2023 

Vincent J. Lardner Jr., 92, of Los Lunas, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.  

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Lois M. Lardner (Layer), with whom he had six children.  

He is survived by his second wife of 15 years, Mary Catherine Lardner (O’Rielly); five stepchildren, along with his 25 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He will be missed by many. 

Vince was born to Vincent Lardner Sr. and Margaret Lardner (Cathcart) on Dec. 11, 1930, and grew up in upstate New York near Buffalo. He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and came back to Lockport, N.Y., 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 six 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. 

His five sons worked in the businesses that have provided landscaping materials and natural stone products throughout New Mexico, the U.S. 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 stonework 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!   

A celebration of life Mass was held on Monday, Dec. 18, at San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque.   

Please visit our online guestbook for Vincent at FrenchFunerals.com for the complete obituary. FRENCH – Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, 505-275-3500.