Richard Maurice Harding

Richard Harding ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Wulf-Ast Mortuary & Cremations, LLC - Garden Plain on Mar. 16, 2026.Richard Maurice Harding, 87, peacefully went home to be with his heavenly father on March 13, 2026.Born on the family farm in Cheney on November 27, 1938, to Maurice and Goldie Harding, he was the only son with four sisters. Richard had an abundant life that included working the family farm, firefighting, construction, meat packing, gardening, hunting, water-skiing, and flying small aircraft. After 27 years of service, he retired from Cheney Door Company in 2005. He was a wise, hardworking man, but his greatest joy was found in being a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.Richard married Marie Pauline Aldershof on August 13, 1973, and they built their family home across from his home place by Cheney Lake where they raised 3 children and lived for over 30 years.Richard is proceeded in death by his parents; sisters Betty Robinson, Joan Kannarr, and Maxine Harding; and brothers-in-law George Robinson and Don Hansen. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marie Harding of Wichita; sister B. Darlene Hansen of Annapolis, MD; son Michael (Julia) Harding of Douglass; daughters Lisa (Jeremy) Gassmann of Maize and Marcie (Jay) McVeigh of Aurora, CO; 9 grandchildren; 2 great-grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.Family visitation will be held Wednesday, March 18 from 5pm-7pm at Wulf-Ast funeral home in Garden Plain, KS. Memorial services will be Thursday, March 19 at 11:30am at Wulf-Ast funeral home in Garden Plain and private interment to be held at a later time.Memorial contributions can be made to Phoenix Hospice, Wichita, KS.To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Maurice Harding, please visit our floral store.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.