Lynwood W. Hare

Fuquay-Varina - Lynwood Walter Hare, 89, passed away on Saturday at Rex Holly Springs Hospital. A native of Harnett County, he was the son of the late Ernest Clinton Hare and Iola McLeod Hare.

Known as the Studebaker Man at Studebaker Crossroads, Lynwood's first car was a Studebaker. His grandfather and father both drove Studebakers. Lynwood would say "They were ahead of their time". Lynwood and Frances met in November of 1970, and they got married on June 12, 1971. It wasn't long after that he started his own collection of Studebakers. Anytime someone saw one they would call Lynwood to let him know and of course he would go check it out. If it was for sale and he could afford it, he would buy it. Lynwood would say "Frances, this one is an automatic rather than a straight gear so you will be able to drive it, I bought it for you". It was very seldom though that Frances would drive one of Lynwood's Studebakers. Their 1957 Studebaker President was Frances' favorite of the Studebakers that they owned over the years, but Frances never drove it. Lynwood and Frances drove that Studebaker President to many car shows where they won numerous trophies. If you ever visited Lynwood and Frances at their home, you may know that they had many Studebaker parts cars at one point, Lynwood amassed a collection of as many as 65. They were stored in shelters, barns, open fields, and even the woods on their farm. When Lynwood's health started declining, he sold most of the good ones that would run. Lynwood and Frances still have a 1966 Cruiser and a 1991 Avanti convertible. Frances says that she considered these as an investment. His love for Studebakers led him to name the crossroads of Purfoy Rd. and Rawls Church Rd. near his home Studebaker Crossroads. Lynwood was truly heartbroken when he had to sell all of his Studebakers, but he understood it was what was best for that specific season in his life.

Lynwood always loved fast cars, he talked Frances into buying multiple sports cars over the years. There was the 1992 Ford Mustang, a 2004 Mercury Marauder, and a 2015 Dodge Charger all of which were fast cars. Frances is still driving the Charger. Lynwood wasn't only interested in Studebakers and sports cars, he also loved NASCAR. Lynwood was a big fan of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. He and Frances were at the race in Daytona and witnessed the wreck that killed Earnhardt. Lynwood would go to every race he could, even if he went alone. One time, he drove the '57 Studebaker all the way to the racetrack in Dover, Delaware for a Studebaker meet. Though Lynwood was no longer able to go to the races, he would catch them on tv every time. During race season, he would start on Tuesday asking people when and where the race was being held that upcoming weekend. Now, Lynwood will be at the track each week in spirit.

Years ago, Lynwood and Frances decided to sell tracks of their land, but they didn't want it to become large housing developments, so they sold it in 5-acre increments. One of the subsequent street names was named Hawk Lane after a Studebaker Hawk. Around this time, they purchased a property in the western NC town of Newland on top of a mountain and enjoyed spending time there for many years. Lynwood and Frances sold that place some years ago so they could focus on their life and property in Fuquay.

Frances would say that "God has truly blessed Lynwood and I in every way. He gets all the credit and we would be nothing without him."

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 24th in the chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier. The burial will follow at Kennebec Baptist Church Cemetery, Angier. The family will receive friends from 10:00-10:45 am prior to the service at the funeral home.

Lynwood is survived by his wife of 53 years, whom he dearly loved, Frances L. Hare; daughter, Vickey Lynn Hare of Fuquay-Varina; granddaughters, Summer Lynn Peacock and husband, Blake of Fuquay-Varina, Allison Davis Blake of Fuquay-Varina; great-grandchildren, Ashlynn Rose Pope, Logan Davis Blake, and Gracelynn Elaine Blake all of Fuquay-Varina, sister, Lynda H. Prince of Fuquay-Varina.

In addition to his parents, Lynwood was preceded in death by his twin brother, Glenwood Ernest Hare.