Robert F "Bob" HARDING
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6A Obit - August 30, 2012
Robert “Bob” F. Harding
August 31, 1920 – August 26, 2012
Robert “Bob” F. Harding died
peacefully at the age of 91, at his
home on August 26, 2012, in the
same house that he was born.
He was the eldest son of Floyd
and Virginia (Crisenberry) Harding.
Bob was preceded in death
by his parents; sister, Virginia
Falcone; brother, Richard “Dick”
Harding; and granddaughter,
Shona St. John.
Bob graduated from Delta High School in 1939, and from Colorado
University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1942 .
He and Virginia Harding were married on May 24, 1943, in Delta.
After being commissioned by the U.S. Navy in the fall of 1942 , he
was trained in hard-hat salvage diving. In 1944, he was sent to the
World War II European theater.
At the end of the war, he and Virginia moved to Englewood, CO ,
where he worked for Gates Rubber Company and finished his masters
degree in Business Management in 1951, from Colorado University.
The family was active in the Methodist Church, Boy Scouts,
and 4-H.
In 1964, Bob and family moved to Brussels, Belgium, where he
served as technical manager for Gates. In 1976, after living in Brussels
for 11 years, he was transferred by Gates to Brantford, Ca nada,
for another six years. When Bob retired in 1982, he and Virgini a
moved back to Delta.
From 1984 to 1996, Bob served on the Delta City Council and
served two terms as Mayor. During these years the recreation center
and Confluence Park were built and the old fire house was remod -
eled to be the museum. The North Delta Bridge was named the Harding
Bridge in his honor.
Bob and Virginia have been very active in the Delta Methodist
Church. He served as chairperson for the church restoration after the
fire. His other main interest was the Delta County Public Libra ry
and he served on the board for many years.
Bob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia, and two children,
Tom (Daphne) Harding and Janet (Bill) St. John. They have three
grandchildren, DeAnn Baker, Brad Harding and Robert (Kirsten) St.
John, and four great-grandchildren, Ethan and Andrew Baker and
Sidney and Ryan St. John.
A memorial service will be held at the Delta Methodist Church at
2:00 p.m., Friday, August 31st.
Gifts and remembrances may be given to the Delta Methodist
Church Fellowship Hall Fund, the Delta County Museum, or the
Delta County Public Library.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funer al
Service and Crematory.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at
taylorfuneralservice.com.
