Lloyd Harding

Lloyd Harding went peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning to be with Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. Jesus paid the price for his sins so that through his grace, he is saved, and one day, today, he is with the Lord. Glory be to God for the great things he has done throughout the life of Lloyd Harding. Our father Lloyd Harding will dwell in the house of the Lord and be with him eternally in heaven. Lloyd knelt before our Lord, and laid his crowns at the feet of Jesus, and he longed to hear the words” job well done thy good and faithful servant”. He is at peace now, and his journey is complete. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 at 11:00am at Potts Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Independence Masonic Lodge.

Lloyd played football in high school, worked in the local grocery store, and boxed as an amateur in 1947 and 1948. As a senior winning the town boxing championship, he then moved on to the national Golden Gloves boxing tournament in Chicago, Illinois in 1948, representing Chariton, Iowa.

Lloyd was part owner of an airplane flying with other members, and even flying solo for 1000 hours, before graduating high school. After graduation in 1948, Lloyd enlisted in the Marine Corp, went to basic training in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and then flight school in Kansas City, Missouri. Upon flight school graduation, he went directly into the Korean War stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After the war, Lloyd went to Oklahoma University on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor of Science of Physics degree, with a minor in Secondary education in 1964 from Oklahoma University.

Upon graduation, Lloyd accepted a teaching position in Moscow, Kansas teaching Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, and Biology. Lloyd was also principle of Moscow, Kansas High School from 1964, 1965, and 1966; then Assistant Principle in 1967, and 1968 while teaching math and science. He earned his master’s degree in teaching from Emporia State University Teachers College in August 1968 from 3 summers of study traveling from Moscow, Kansas to Emporia, Kansas. Lloyd also took three groups of science students to Washington, DC in the summers of 1965, 1966, and 1967.

In 1970, he accepted a teaching position in Independence, Kansas, again teaching Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, and Biology math and science courses. Lloyd again, led student classes to Washington, DC in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He was also Chairman of the Math and Science department during the later 1970’s and through the 1980’s, retiring from Independence High School in 1993. As President of the Independence NEA National Education Association, he represented Independence, Kansas in Chicago in 1973, Long Beach in 1974, and Miami in 1975 as the delegate for Independence, Kansas USD 446 NEA.

Lloyd also started the computer science program at Independence Senior High School in 1978 with two TRS-80 computers from Radio Shack. Students used the computers during lunch for several years before a course structure was developed and integrated into the school curriculum. Lloyd also taught math and science courses at Independence Community College in 1994, 1995, and 1996 as an Adjunct Professor upon retirement from USD 446 in 1993.

In 1975, Lloyd became a member of the Independence, Kansas Masonic Lodge, Fortitude Lodge #107. Throughout his membership, Lloyd held every position in the organization, and is currently in his 47th year of membership. During this same period, he has also been a member of the Scottish Right Temple with a lifetime membership. Lloyd is also an active member of the Marine Corp. Alumni Association with member beginning in 1992.

Lloyd married Frankie Roberta (Underwood) Harding 1953-1981 this union produced two children, Martin Harding and Tori (Harding) Simmons; Frankie Harding passed away September 2007. Lloyd Harding then married Constance Harding on June 24th, 1983, until 2019.  Constance (Baird) Harding previously had a daughter Susan Baird (Joshi) currently of Kirkland, Washington. They later divorced.

Lloyd dedicated and applied his life to helping others through education and career aspirations for 36 years but more importantly living his life for the Lord as an example of his faith. During the 1970’s and 1980’s Lloyd was a Deacon, and Lead Deacon in the First Southern Baptist Church as both a member, teaching Sunday school, and as a leader in the church in various positions, the last position as the Building and Grounds director. Lloyd was active in the building and organizing of the new sanctuary in the later 1970’s.

Lloyd also owned the Colonial Manor apartment house, and another 4-unit apartment house on 10th Street behind the Lutheran Church, and was an Apartment Governors member in Independence, Kansas. In 1973, Lloyd renovated the high school in Virgin, Kansas into a summer church camp for the Southern Baptist Conference, active in 1974.

Lloyd Emery Harding is survived by his son Martin Harding, daughter Tori (Harding) Simmons and husband Bobby of Hinton, Oklahoma; Grandchildren; Jordan Simmons and wife Laurie, Tyler Simmons and Grace Simmons; his granddaughter Bethany Prevedeli, her husband Charlie Prevedeli, and two great-grandchildren Charles Prevedeli, and Ava Prevedeli: Grandson Andrew Harding; and granddaughter Carrie Harding: previous wife Constance Harding, Susan (Joshi) Baird and her husband Sanjay Joshi, their children (Grandchildren) Sons Ajay Joshi, Amar Joshi and Avinash Joshi.