William Samuel "Bill" Harding

William Samuel "Bill" Harding, 83, passed away at his home on November 15, 2025 after a brief illness. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1942 to the late Paul Berry Harding and Maxine Morrisette Beacham, he graduated from E. W. Grove High School and retired from Emerson Electric. He was also retired from the military, having proudly served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Tennessee Air National Guard. Dad loved playing golf and poker, watching football, Kentucky Lake, afternoon drives and controlling the television remote. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church where he served on the vestry for many years and of the Paris Country Club where he spent many mornings on the course.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Hacker Harding of Paris; daughters Bethany (Chris) Corum of Tallahassee, FL; and Emily (Matt) Routon of Paris; and sons David (Casey) Harding of Cheshire, MA; Paul (Stacey) Kesterson of Morristown, TN; and Jason (Hedy) Kesterson of Cookeville, TN. He is survived by grandchildren Stella Harding Corum, Thalia (Logan) Trussel, Abby (Alex) Selwitz, Megan Kesterson (Tyler Torbett), Nicholas Kesterson and Violet Kesterson and great-grandchild Naomi Selwitz. He is also survived by his brother Robert "Bob" (Marya) Harding of Yorba Linda, CA and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles "Butch" Harding and his second wife Sue Gayle "Slick" Harding.
A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Paris First United Methodist Church's Second Harvest ministry.