Darrel Grover Harden

Darrel Grover Harden, age 94, of Norman passed away on September 8, 2025.

He was born in Fay, Oklahoma on December 29, 1930 to Grover and Carlie (Young) Harden. He left home at a young age and lived independently while attending high school in Thomas, OK, where he played football and excelled scholastically. He was awarded an appointment to West Point but left after a short period to enlist in the US Air Force.

He served in the Air Force from October 1948 to August 1952, receiving an Honorable Discharge.

Darrel graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Norman in May of 1957 with a mechanical engineering degree. Later he earned his Master's degree from SMU in Dallas Texas and his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

He taught at Oklahoma University from 1963 until retirement in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

After retirement Darrel spent extensive time in India before returning to Norman for the remainder of his life.

He married Beverly (Barker) in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas and had four children, divorcing in 1975. The children are Mark and wife Sue Harden, Brian and wife Tonya Harden, Karen and husband Ross Sauve, and Karla Dishun.

He is survived by his 4 children, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.