Norman Christian Harding (97) died in his home in Farmers Branch, Texas with his family around him on December 21, 2020.

A Memorial talk will be held Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm CST via Zoom.
For more information and invitation link to memorial, email: thehardingfamily97@gmail.com

Donations may be made to www.donate.jw.org (Worldwide Work)

Norman was born in Nekoosa, Wisconsin on March 7, 1923 and was raised on a farm in the Camp Douglas, Wisconsin area.He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alda Williams Harding and by his second wife, Auril Murgatroyd Harding.He is survived by his five children and their families:Sandy Byford (Philip), David Harding (Sophie), Mary Dilworth (John), Daniel Harding (Terilyn), and Nancy Fisher (Kevin).He also is survived by his honorary daughter, Rosie Salgado.He had seven grandchildren: Rachel Harding Pena, Ryan Byford, Lisa Byford Jowell, Laramie Harding, Cheyenne Harding, Brook Harding and Piper Fisher.He had two great-grandchildren: David Pena and Sophia Pena.

Norman served as an Air Force navigator in the Pacific front during WWII. He earned a Master's degree in Geology at the University of Wisconsin where he met and married Alda.As a geophysicist in the oil exploration field, he worked for GSI and TI and was sent all over the world.He loved to travel and after his retirement, he, Alda and her 92 year old aunt traveled all over the country with their trailer, visiting family and national parks.He also spent many winters volunteering as a campground host in Big Bend National Park.

He was a caring man to whom family was extremely important.As Alda became more disabled with Parkinson's Disease, he found ways to continue caring for her at home until her death in 1994.He later met and married Auril in 1999, when he was 77 and she was 83.They hoped for 10 good years together and made it 21!They enjoyed their senior years together, traveling around the country and between their homes in Texas, Wisconsin and Florida.As they got older, their favorite pastime was sitting on the swing on Auril's deck overlooking her lovely pond, woods and gardens, holding hands and watching the antics of birds and wildlife.Many in Wisconsin Rapids remember their matching hats and tender love for each other.Auril died September 10, 2020 at 104 years of age at Hilltop Grand Village the day after Norman returned home from a prolonged hospital stay with Covid.They will both be intensely missed by all.