REV. HENRY S. HARDING
August 30, 1920- April 7 2012
Rumney-----Rev. Henry S. Harding died on April 7, 2012 after a period of declining health. He was born on August 30, 1920 in Somerville, MA to Henry S. and Nellie (Lewis) Harding both deceased. After graduation from high school in New London, CT, he worked in the Odd Fellows Home and later at Electric Boat building submarines.
Henry married the late Marion Stitt Harding on June 28, 1941. He served in WWII in the Pacific theater. Following the war he attended a Christian college. Upon graduation from college in 1950, He served as a youth worker and in Sunday school ministry. He was ordained in March 1951. Following that, he ministered in a number of churches including, Montville Union Baptist Church, Lakes Pond Baptist Church, West Bridgewater Baptist Church, MA, Berean Baptist Church, Brunswick, ME, N Raynham Congregational Church, and First Baptist Church, Weymouth, MA.
Rev. Harding also served as a prison Chaplain at Bridgewater State Prison and as a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol. He also served for 8 years at Ukamba Bible College, Kenya, as a teacher and Principal. Through the years, he was involved with various summer camp ministries in NH and PA. In 1989 he retired from full time pastoral ministry to Rumney, NH. He continued to minister as a pulpit supply and interim pastor in churches in VT and NH.
He is survived by his son, James Harding of TX, his daughter, June Harding of NH, foster children, Cynthia Neely, of TN, Debbie Ferrara of RI, Cynthia MacDonald of MA and James Blanchard of MA as well as 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 2 great- great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his three brothers, Lt Col (US Army Ret) Claude Douglas Harding, Alan Harding and Capt (US Army Ret) Warren G Harding.
Due to his years of association with New England Fellowship, of Rumney, NH as a board member and other service ministries, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New England Fellowship in his memory.
A funeral service will be held at Rumney Bible Conference Grounds Tabernacle on Saturday April 14. 2012 at 1:30 pm. Another memorial service for those who cannot attend will be held on July 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm in the Tabernacle of Rumney Bible Conference Grounds, Rt 25 in Rumney, NH.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an on line memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.