NASHVILLE
Mr. Kenneth Reid Harker, Jr. died on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at his home in Nashville, Indiana, about three months after the discovery of esophageal cancer that had spread throughout his body. He was 83 years old. Mr. Harker was born on April 23, 1941, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Kenneth Reid Harker Sr. (1910-1979) and Anna Elizabeth (“Betty”) (Beckman) Harker (1915-2014).
Mr. Harker was the first of four children in the Harker family (followed by his brother Thomas, sister Sue, and brother Richard), all of whom grew up together in Indianapolis. He attended Henry Peter Coburn School Number 66 and Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, graduating from high school in the class of 1959. In addition to school, he took pride in working part-time and summer jobs, starting with a paper route at age 8. He also was active in the Boy Scouts and was a camp counselor at both Boy Scouts and Presbyterian church camps for several summers. His family was active in the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. In high school, he ran both track and cross country, but had stronger interests in academics. Following high school, he went to Wooster, Ohio, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the College of Wooster in 1963. While in college, he also had part-time jobs working food services at the college, as a carpenter, playing bass in a jazz band, and pitching logs in a paper mill. Deciding that he would prefer not to be a professional chemist or a chemistry teacher, he next attended the University of Michigan, School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1966.
After a brief time in private practice as a lawyer with Kunz and Kunz in Indianapolis, Mr. Harker enlisted in the United States Navy’s Officer Candidate School in 1966. His first posting as an Ensign was aboard the USS Bennington (CVS-20) where he served during two combat periods as a Signals officer in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. During this time, he held an extraordinarily high security clearance, related to special duties to which he was assigned. While serving on the Bennington, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. His second posting was aboard the USS Wright (CC-2) based in Norfolk, Virginia. While posted on the Wright, he was also given special duties of defense counsel for sailors facing courts martial or other disciplinary actions. During his time in the Navy, Mr. Harker was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Viet-Nam Service Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Mr. Harker met his first wife, Erma Louise Shirk (1943-2004), in Long Beach, California while attending church on his first shore leave after returning from combat in Vietnam. They were married in Norfolk, Virginia, on September 27, 1969. After he was discharged from active military service at the end of his enlistment in October, 1969, they moved to Indianapolis where he resumed working as an attorney for Kunz and Kunz, making partner with the firm two years later. They had two children (Kenneth and Kathryn). Deciding that corporate legal work might provide a greater variety of experience, he left private practice and pursued a career as a corporate attorney for companies in the rapidly-changing telecommunications and high technology industries. His work resulted in moving the family from Indiana to Glen Ellyn, Illinois, then Edina, Minnesota, and finally to Garland, Texas. During this time, he and Erma were both active members and elders of Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas, and they were both active with World Vision. In 2001, they funded the construction of a primary school in a rural village in Nicaragua, which was named honor of Mr. Harker’s mother Betty who accompanied them to the school’s dedication. After a more than 20-year tenure at Nortel, Mr. Harker was able to retire before the age of 60. Including some post-retirement side work, his legal career spanned over 50 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Harker had purchased land in Brown County, Indiana, just outside of the small town of Nashville. Shortly after he retired from Nortel, they began working with an architect and contractor to build their dream home in the woods. They moved there in 2002 and began enjoying life in the forest. Erma passed away unexpectedly from a heart condition in February 2004. They had been married for 34 years. After Erma’s passing, Mr. Harker met his second wife, Janet (“Jan”). Jan had moved to Nashville to take an executive leadership position with the Brown County YMCA, where they met. They were married on September 3, 2005 and enjoyed 17 years of married life before Jan passed away in April, 2022 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. During his retirement, Mr. Harker enjoyed reading, enjoyed vacationing in Europe, was very active in Rotary International, was a supporter of Indiana Heritage Arts, and was an active member of both the Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship and later the Grace Reformed Church of Nashville.
Mr. Harker is survived by his son and daughter, Kenneth Harker (Jen) and Kathryn Tillman (Stuart). He had three grandchildren: Ryan Tillman, James Harker, and Anna Tillman. He also leaves behind two beloved brothers and a sister: Thomas Harker (Young), Sue Claphan (Michael), and Richard Harker. He is survived by brother-in-law Larry Shirk (Rita), nephews and nieces Lani Matthes (Rich), Daniel Claphan (Sara), Andrew Claphan (Jen), Linnea Roy (Jeremy), Dionna Baggaley (Christian), Richard Harker (Angela), and Kristin Harker. He is predeceased by his wives Erma Louise (Shirk) Harker and Janet Marie (Rickey) Harker, sisters-in-law Donna Jean Shirk, Jennifer Harker, Debra Ann (Thornton) Harker, and his nephew Todd Hardin.
On Friday, June 28, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM there will be a viewing at Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home, 1682 IN-135, Nashville, IN 47448. Per Mr. Harker’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 West 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208 at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 29, 2024. In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen in Nashville, Indiana.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BondMitchellFuneralHome.com for the Harker family.
