Floyd Dean Harding

Floyd Dean Harding August 31, 1932 – December 6, 2025

Floyd Dean (Lukens) Harding, age 93, of Arlington, Texas, passed away on December 6, 2025.

Floyd was born Wednesday, August 31, 1932, on the Middleton family homestead near Ruleton, Kansas, to Claude Thomas Lukens and Esther Eola Middleton. He later took the last name Harding following his mother’s marriage to Harry Frank Harding. Floyd was the oldest of seven siblings.

Floyd was proud of his pioneer family heritage of Irish and German ancestry. Raised in farm country during the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II, he developed a lifelong love for animals. His favorite hobby was training obedience and herding stock dogs. He served for many years as an AKC Obedience Judge and was well known for his love of country music, good humor, and quick one-liner jokes.

Floyd attended school in Goodland, Kansas, and graduated in 1950 with the Sherman County High School class of 102 students. Upon graduation, he immediately joined the United States Navy.

Following his Navy service, Floyd married his hometown sweetheart, Dorothy Lee Rockwell, on January 21, 1955. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University, and together they shared 55 years of devoted marriage. They were blessed with three children.

A natural-born hard worker, tinkerer, and craftsman, Floyd began his professional career in aerospace engineering at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, followed by work as a contract engineer with Development Designers, Inc. He later joined LTV Aerospace and its successor, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control. Floyd was a key member of the original 60 employees who relocated from LTV–Michigan to the Aerospace Division in Grand Prairie, Texas, helping successfully produce the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). He served first in critical rocket system design and development roles and later as a Project Manager. Floyd retired on September 1, 1994, after more than 25 years of dedicated service.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Esther Harding; his beloved wife, Dorothy Harding; his grandson Rolando De Leon; and his brothers Gary Lukens of Philomath, Oregon, Larry Frank Harding of Missouri and his brother-in-law, Bill Short of Loveland, CO.

He is survived by his children Eric Harding, Kris Harding, and Bonnie Burson; six grandchildren, Lynette Harding, Jason Dean Harding, David Harding, Lindsay McLeroy, Tanner Burson, Jenna Bryan and her husband, Carson; granddaughter-In-law, Juana Hernández De Leon; eleven great-grandchildren; and many beloved nephews and nieces.

His brothers and sisters, Claudine Huges of CA, Carol Short of CO, Sister in law Opal Harding of MO, Bruce Harding (wife Linda preceded in death) of KS, Cynthia and Bob Hayden of NM