Richard Harmon, a lifetime Hutchinson resident, died Saturday night, March 18, 2017, at 10:57 p.m. He was born Dec. 11, 1921, in Hutchinson, to Florence J. (Strothman) and James Clair (J.C.) Harmon. Richard was preceded in death by: his wife, Evelyn F. Harmon, who died Aug. 13, 2010; a brother, Russell Harmon, who was killed in WWII during the Normandy Invasion ("D" Day); and another brother, Harold Harmon, who died of a brain tumor in Aug. 1995.

Richard attended St. Teresa's Catholic School, Liberty Jr. High School, and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1939. He attended Hutchinson Junior College, the Arts and Decoration School in New York, and graduated from the Ray-Vogue School of Interior Decorating in Chicago. Richard was an active member of the American Institute of Interior Designers from 1956-1967. For 56 years, he was a member of the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68. Richard was also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose #982, past president of the Noon Optimist Club, a past president of the South Central Kansas Senior Invitational Golf Association, and a member of the Kansas Senior Golf Association. He was an active member of the Prairie Dunes Country Club, being a three-time president of the L.A.D.S. Men's Association at the club. He was a member of the Apache Wells Country Club in Mesa, Arizona. From 1985 to 1989, he was on the Kansas Golf Association Golf Course Rating Team, which evaluated and rated golf courses throughout Kansas. On Oct. 13, 1977, Richard received a Certificate of Merit from the National Small Business Association.

In March 1943, he married Georgiann Allison in Eureka, California. They had a son, Robert, a daughter, Nancy, and a son, Kim. He divorced Georgiann in Sept. 1963. On May 27, 1967, he married Evelyn F. Minor, who had a son, Gary, and a son, Tom.

In 1948, he joined his father J.C. in the family furniture business, Harmon Furniture Company, along with his brother Harold. His father died in Aug. 1957 and the two sons continued the business at 19-21-23-25 South Main. In May 1969, a devastating fire destroyed the business on Main Street. The property was donated to the City of Hutchinson and is now known as the Harmon Parking Lot. In 1971, the two boys re-established the furniture store and renamed it "The Harmon Furniture Discount Warehouse" located at 307 N. Washington, which was the former Dillon Grocery Warehouse. In 1973, Richard bought out Harold and continued the business until retiring and closing the store Dec. 24, 1977.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Jackie Minor officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hutchinson Public Library or Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.