Clyde Lester Harting
October 23, 1933-March 6, 2026
Clyde Lester Harting, 92, of Anderson, Indiana, passed away after a brief illness at Bethany Pointe Health Campus on March 6, 2026.
He was born on October 23, 1933 in Mount Comfort, Indiana. Clyde was the third son of Carl and Delyte (Leslie) Harting. He shared a wonderful life with his beloved wife, Rowena Long Harting.
Once upon a time, there was a farm outside of Mount Comfort, Indiana named All-View. On that farm, Carl and Delyte Harting raised eight children. Between Carl’s substantial gifts of farming, breaking horses, writing comedy skills and serving as a church and community leader and Delyte running a household of eight children, preparing thousands of meals, reading regularly to all and singing, the two raised their 8 children- putting 6 of them thru college; two ministers, two teachers, one farmer, one women’s leader, one professor and one nurse.
Upon high school graduation, Clyde spent two years at Anderson College before leaving to take a position working at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis as an IBM operator/stat accountant. After a couple of years, Uncle Sam called-Clyde was then transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Army basic training. His previous experience in stat accounting first took Clyde to 5th Army HQ in Hyde Park/Chicago and then to 7th Army HQ in Stuttgart, Germany. Clyde’s love to travel was ignited due to extensive travel during these assignments.
After 18 months abroad, Clyde returned to Chicago where he worked as an X-ray technician at the University of Chicago health clinics. By this time, Clyde was feeling the need to return to Anderson College (AU) to finish what he started eight years before.
While singing with the Anderson College choir and the CBH Choralaires, Clyde met Rowena Long of Oklahoma. Their friendship developed over their time at Anderson College. After graduation, Rowena went to Portland to fulfill a teaching assignment while Clyde returned to Chicago to fulfill his contract. Exorbitant phone bills and plane fares encouraged their June 1962 wedding after which both signed teaching contracts with the Hoopeston, Illinois school system for the next two years.
Following a year of graduate work, directing a musical at Anderson College and exploring international assignments, the couple left for a 4-year contract to Kenya, East Africa. Clyde was the headmaster in a government secondary school while Rowena taught in the school. Four glorious years in a recently freed English colony!
Returning stateside from Kenya via India and the Orient, Clyde began a 12-year work assignment at the Indiana Reformatory in Pendleton, first as a teacher, then as the principal and finally as a Stress Management Consultant for the Department of Corrections (DOC).
A call from California provided a respite from the gray walls of prison! Clyde took an assignment as Tour Manager for MTS Travel- World Travel while Rowena continued her teaching career. For the final 15 years of his working life, Clyde returned to his first career choice (of many) - that of teaching.
Twenty-five years of retirement back in Anderson included a few years as adjunct teachers at Anderson College, several return trips to the UK and coast-to-coast trips in the US. As has always been, years have been filled with friendships and cherished memories that continue to grow, provide laughter and tears and indicate a life well-lived.
Clyde is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rowena; two brothers, Wayne Harting and Fred (Becky) Harting; sister, Gladys (Charlie) Sowders; several nieces and nephews.
Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Carl Byron Harting; and three sisters, Naomi Hull, Thelma Miller and Carol Wilcox.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Park Place Church of God with Dr. Jonathan Grubbs officiating. A private burial took place on March 26, 2026 in Marion National Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1:00pm-2:00pm on Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Children of Promise, 2902 Enterprise Drive, Suite 300; Anderson, IN 46013.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com