Edward William Harkenrider PhD

Edward William Harkenrider, PhD passed away on September 21, 2020 one day before his 98th birthday. He was born September 22, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Elmer William Harkenrider and Viola Cardula (Muller) Harkenrider. On August 22, 1951 Edward married Kathleen Frances Scullion in Montreal, Quebec. Ed earned his PhD in Philosophy in 1952 from Catholic University. He taught philosophy until 1966 at the University of Dayton where he earned Full Professor. In 1967 Ed became Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at Western Michigan University where he served until his retirement in 1984. In this position he strived to provide assistance to the most financially challenged students. In 1971 Governor Milliken appointed him to serve on the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority where he helped establish the State Direct Student Loan program which has benefited thousands of students throughout Michigan. After retirement Ed was generous with his time and talent. He volunteered regularly in service to his local parish, St. Ambrose Church in Parchment. He served as well on the Diocesan Pastoral Council of Kalamazoo and was a member of the Board and President of Dillon Complex for Independent Living on the Nazareth Campus. Ed is survived by his son, John; granddaughter Kelly Harkenrider (Bernard Bernardo) and great grandchildren Dorian and Remy; and by sister-in-law Shirley Harkenrider and many nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Katheen, on November 2, 1995; by brothers Donald (Mary), James (Ellen) and Richard; by sisters Mary (Herbert) Kloer, Frances (Bruce) Winebrenner, and Joan (Chester) Sample. We wish to thank Ed’s niece, Patty Wood and husband Doug, for facilitating Ed’s move to senior care living back “home” in Fort Wayne and for generously supporting him during his stay. We also thank other members of Ed’s Fort Wayne extended family for their care and frequent visits including Shirley Harkenrider, Kathy Harkenrider, Mike Sample, Dave Barlog and many other nieces and nephews who shared time with him during the last several years. We are also most grateful to the caring and courteous staff at St. Anne Home for their dedicated and loving support for Ed in his senior years. Family will greet friends at Ed’s parish, St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Parchment, on Thursday, September 24 at 10:30AM. Funeral Mass will be followed at 11AM.