Harold (Hal) Eldon Harden died in McKinleyville on December 24, 2020. He was born on March 20, 1937 in Ottawa, Kansas. He spent most of his growing up years in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1954 his family moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland and he graduated from high school there in 1955.

Hal attended the University of Maryland until he received an appointment to the Naval Academy. After graduating in 1961 he spent ten years in the Navy, most of the first six years at sea. In 1967, now a lieutenant, he began his studies in Electronic Engineering at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. In 1968 he met his wife on a blind date and they were married not long after. After getting his B.S. degree he was transferred to Alameda. They bought a house in Orinda and lived there for 6 years. Hal left the Navy during that time and after working for Airco Temescal in Emeryville for several years they decided to realize a dream that they had of buying a place in the country and in May 1976, ended up on 100 acres in a beautiful valley east of Garberville.

For the next 39 years his woodworking talent was on full display as he created a new house interior, and in between drove a SHUSD bus to Island Mountain and back for nine years, built a small barn and chicken coop, milked several cows over the first 10 years, sheared a small flock of sheep, fenced most of the 100 acres, and fixed anything that needed it. He enjoyed listening to classical music and sketching their cows and various scenic places along the north coast. He traveled with his wife to different European countries and became a dedicated admirer of anything British after several trips there.

In 2015 they sold their one-of-a-kind house and property and moved to a neighborhood in McKinleyville to be closer to medical specialists. Hal leaves his wife of 52 years, Wendy, two loving daughters, Maggie and Cia, and two granddaughters.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Hal Harden’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.