Richard was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on August 23, 1936. He and his brother Robert grew up primarily in Marshalltown with their dear parents Virgil and Florence (Wolken) Harmon. He attended schools in Marshalltown and Fernald, Iowa, joining the United States Navy in 1955 earning an Honorable Discharge in 1959. For a young man from central Iowa, being based in California and traveling on an aircraft carrier to Japan, Korea, and ports across the Pacific gave him many great stories. During this time, he met his wife Sharon (Vaughn) Harmon in Seattle, and together they moved to Iowa where they raised their three daughters. Following their divorce, Richard lived in LeGrand, Tama county, rural Missouri, and finally Union. He retired from Fishers in 2000, after nearly 35 years with the company, most of which was in Customer Service where he made countless telephone friendships with customers across the country.

Richard loved all things outdoors. He always had gardens of varying sizes, one year growing over 100 pounds of potatoes! He fished all over the country and in Canada – from farm ponds to the great lakes, enjoying many fishing and hunting trips with his friends. He shared his passion for the outdoors with his daughters, involving them in fishing, gardening, and road hunting from the time they were small.

Richard also loved to talk about politics and food with anyone who would listen, recommending local restaurants in nearly every travel destination his now adult children visited. He was always very much a family man. He staked out the location for the large annual Harmon reunions and was right in the mix when his Wolken aunts, uncles and cousins gathered for cards and fabulous potluck dining.

Mostly, Richard was the ultimate girl-dad, and was happiest when he was with “my girls.” He changed his daughter’s tire on the highway during a blizzard; more than once, he did hours of clean-up detasselling on his exhausted daughter’s contracted portion; and he ensured his youngest had quality groceries and protein (i.e. steaks) to help her heal from a serious health condition.

As much as he loved being a dad, he fully embraced his role as the “world’s greatest grandpa,” to his three granddaughters and his great-granddaughter and great-grandson. Nothing would make Papa Richard light up more than hearing one of their voices. Whenever he was introduced to someone new in recent months, you could hear him proudly listing their accomplishments.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents: Florence and Virgil Harmon; and his brother Robert H. Harmon. He is survived by his loving daughters: Lynn Rhodes (Jerry Overstake) of LeGrand, Iowa; Julie Aronoff (Michael) of Shaker Heights, Ohio; and Carrie Harmon-Olerich of Omaha, Nebraska. He will be dearly remembered by his granddaughters: Ashley Bringmann of Gilman, Iowa; Bess Aronoff of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Abigail Aronoff of Atlanta, Georgia; and his great-grandchildren Ava and Damon Bringmann.

A funeral service for Richard is scheduled for Wednesday April 10, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service. He will be laid to rest at Lutheran Cemetery of Dillon. Memorials in his name may be directed to the family. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Lovingly written by his family.