LINCOLN – Read Parker Harding, 65, died unexpectedly Nov. 21, 2008, in Portsmouth, N.H. He was born in Boston, a son of the late Caroline G. (Read) and Francis A. Harding. He grew up in Dedham, Mass., and graduated from high school at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. Mr. Harding also graduated from the University of Massachusetts as a forester, work that he loved and excelled at. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War as a radio man. Lovingly known as “Bones” to all his friends, he traveled extensively up and down the East Coast in his little white Mazda with his faithful dog, Rosie. One dear friend said she thinks of him as a “treetop philosopher.” He met people everywhere he went and they all meant so much to him. Mr. Harding was a member of Horeb Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 93, Lincoln. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca A. (Page) Harding of Lincoln; and his children, Charity Stashwick and her husband, Todd, of Los Angeles, Molly Harding of Sag Harbor, N.Y., Charles Harding and Emily Harding, both of Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is the grandfather of Oscar and Matilda Stashwick. He is also survived by his siblings, Francis A. Harding and his wife, Mary Ann, of Newport, Henry L. Harding and his wife, Pamela, of Phoenix, May H. Pierce and her husband, Daniel, of Dedham, Mass., and Caroline Dyer-Gunn and her husband, Al, of Bahama, N.C.; his godson, Turk Harding of Newport; many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday at Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton St., Dedham, Mass. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul’s Church, 59 Court St., Dedham, Mass. Burial will be private. Donations in Bones’ memory may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114. For directions and an online guest book, please visit our Web site at www.folsomfuneral.com.
READ PARKER HARDING
