Retired Lt.Col. USAF Craig "Nooch" Denis Harding passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022, in Boynton Beach. He was the husband of Sandra Ellen Landesman Harding for 50 years on July 3, 2021. He was the oldest child of Laura Hess and Clair "Nooch" Harding of Nazareth, PA.

Craig graduated from Nazareth High School in 1965, where he was an all-state basketball player for the Blue Eagles, helping them win the most successful season in 24 years.

He played saxophone for the Crescendos Orchestra. If you closed your eyes you thought you were listening to the Big Bands. They played gigs every weekend.

Craig taught at Brentwood High School on Long Island for 1 year.

After that, he received a commission as an officer in the Air Force. After receiving his wings, he flew for the Strategic Air Command as a KC-135 Pilot. While stationed in Dayton Ohio, he was the commander of the maintenance squadron at Wright Patterson AF Base. For a number of years he managed the Dayton Air Show.

Craig's love for aviation started at a young age. He built and flew model airplanes throughout his life. He recently completed the build of a stellar VANS RV-4 airplane which was 4 years in
the making. The aircraft is bright orange and displays "LtCol Nooch Harding" in black. He wanted it to stand out so everyone would know it was him when he was coming in for a landing.

Besides his wife Sandy, he is survived by his brother Bruce and his wife Sandy, his sister Diane and her husband Jerry Carlo, his son, Jason, his daughter Jayme and her husband Christopher Sinclair, 4 Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many cousins.

A gathering will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 1 PM to 2 PM at Palm Beach National Chapel, 10055 Heritage Farms Rd. Lake Worth, FL. A memorial service will follow at 2 PM.

You are invited to join the 2:00 memorial service via zoom here:
https://viewneral.zoom.us/j/ 95803202860?pwd= Z2xTVEhFcE1PbTNjSTY5OTIyUVZDUT 09

In lieu of flowers, donations will graciously be accepted to Gary Sinise Foundation, honoring and serving our defenders. www.garysinisefoundation.org/ donate