Paul Harding

Paul Elliott Harding, age 68, son of Mary Ellen Tucker and Virgel W. Harding passed away in Wichita KS on Sunday April 3, 2011. A memorial service honoring Paul will be at Westlink Christian Church, Wichita, KS Wed. Apr. 6 at 3:30 p.m. and Graveside Service at Oak Hill Cemetery, Elk City, KS Thurs. Apr. 7 at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Independence, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the Oak Hill Cemetery or the Kansas Patriot Guard and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel, P.O. Box 801, Independence, Kansas 67301. He was born in French Camp, Calif. March 22, 1943. He attended school in Westview and Seneca, MO and is a graduate of Seneca, High School. A veteran of USAFApr. 64 Apr. 70 he served stateside and in Tripoli,Lybia as office machine repair specialist. Then he lived in Northeast OK, Carl Junction, Mo., Independence, Ks, where he and Kay, were married. They since have lived in both Joplin Carl Junction, MO., and Independence, Moline, Oxford, and Wichita, KS. Beginning in 1973 he attended Ozark Bible College, and later became an Ordained Minister. Paul pastored churches in Moline, Howard, Oxford and Wichita. July 1, 2010, he retired from USD 259 schools in Wichita, after 28 years as a custodial specialist. Paul loved his extended family ie: staff students of USD 259. His eyes would glisten as he related stories about the many children who referred to him as Mr. Paul or Grandpa. Paul was twice awarded the Wichita Board of Educations Good Apple Award for outstanding service to city schools. One teacher said Paul is a model of efficiency, a perpetual motion machine. He is cheerful, thoughtful and kind, both to staff and children. Another mentioned Even on break, he is usually doing something for someone. I cannot say enough to praise his devotion. Paul was truly a kind, gracious, and thoughtful person. He liked and had a keen interest in any person he met. A man of numerous interests, his preferred hobby was spending valued time with his grandson, Colby Johnson. Paul is survived by wife Kay Jones Harding, daughter Kathy Johnson soninlaw Wayne Johnson, and grandson Colby, brothers Larry Eucha, OK, Tom Carl Junction, and Daryl Langley, OK, one sister Pam of Strafford, Mo as well as a number of Aunts, Uncles, Nieces Nephews. In addition to his parents Paul was preceded in death by a brother Michael.