OBITUARY

Name:   William F. Harder

From:  The Sunday Spectator, New York
Date:  Sunday, July 9, 2006

WELLSVILLE -- William "Bill" Harder, 76, of 6 Howe Terrace in Wellsville and 6900 Dennis Circle in Naples, Fla., died Friday (July 7, 2006) shortly after arrival at Jones memorial Hospital in Wellsville.  He was born Aug. 19, 1929, in Wellsville, the son of Francis and D. Irene (Rennells) Harder.  On March 24, 1951, in the First Congregational Church in Wellsville, he married Beverly Garvey, who survives.

Bill was a 1947 graduate of Wellsville High School, a 1951 graduate of Alfred State College and graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1963.  He was employed as an engineer for ABB Air Preheater Company in Wellsville, retiring in 1992 after 35 years of service.  He was an active member and past president of the Wellsville Lions Club, a 56-year member of the Wellsville Elks Lodge #1495, a member of the First Congregational Church in Wellsville, where he had served in various positions and was an associate member of the Mayflower Congregational Church in Naples, Fla.  He was a former Small Court Basketball coach, enjoyed chaperoning Boy Scout trips and was an avid hunter.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 55 years, Beverly, are three sons, William F. Harder Jr. of Tamarac, Fla., Stephen R. (Mary) Harder of Chalfont, Pa., and Brian J. (Susan) Harder of Baton Rouge, La; six beloved grandchildren, Scott, Kevin, Michele and Sarah Harder, Kimberly Callery and Kelly Machnik; and one great-granddaughter, Katelyn Machnik.

He was preceded in death by two infant sisters.

Friends are invited to call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, Inc. in Wellsville.  The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in the First Congregational Church, 289 N. Main St. in Wellsville, with Rev. William Jones presiding.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellsville.  The Wellsville Lions Club service will be at 6:45 p.m. Monday and the Elks Lodge Memorial service will be at 8 p.m. Monday.

Memorial suggestions include the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps., P.O. Box 206, Wellsville, NY 14895, or the First Congregational Church Memorial Fund.