Kenneth W. Harding

Colonel Kenneth W. Harding, US Army, Retired, 82, of Peterborough, NH, was surrounded by his family when he passed on Friday, November 21, 2025, after a period of declining health.

He was the son of the late William and Hazel Harding, born on July 19, 1943, in Philadelphia, PA. He attended Norristown High School, where he met the love of his life, Sandra. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Albuquerque in 1973.

A bit of a rascal with a twinkle in his eye and a laugh that surely meant he was up to something, Ken enlisted in the US Army in 1961. Little did he know then that he would spend the next 30 years serving his country. He was commissioned as an officer in 1965. Ken served two tours in Vietnam, was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and was inducted into the Officer Candidacy School Hall of Fame in 2020.

After his retirement from the Army, Ken received his teaching certification from then Franklin Pierce College. He aspired to be a social studies teacher and was for a short time before becoming an Assistant Principal at Milford High School, in Milford, NH in 1993. There, Mr. Harding was known as being an enforcer of rules and policies but was loved by students for being fair and treating everyone equally until his retirement in 2008. Many graduation ceremonies found his hands full of “gifts” from students, most memorably the year they all gave him their id lanyards.

Ken and Sandy were married February 24, 1962, and together moved from state to state, post to post with their children. They settled in Rindge, NH in 1985, where Ken was very involved in the United Congregational Church roast beef suppers and the Rindge Food Pantry. They moved to Peterborough in 2017.

An avid sports fan, Ken could be found on Sunday afternoons cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles, on the sidelines of many Franklin Pierce soccer and basketball games in years past, or being the best Pop supporting his grandsons at their various sporting events.

Ken is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sandy of Peterborough, his daughter Laura Harding and Tom Lambert of Jaffrey, his son Ken Harding, Jr and wife Sherry of Bedford, his grandson CJ Caron of Gray, ME, grandsons Kiefer Harding and Jake Harding, both of Bedford, his aunts Dot Ziegler and Janet Harding, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to his parents and many beloved aunts and uncles, Ken was predeceased by his brother William Harding, Jr.

There will be no services at this time. Burial and graveside services will be held in the Spring 2026.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the nursing staff at RiverMead Village Assisted Living for their loving care of Ken.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to Hospice at HCS, 312 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH 03431.