Harold
Ryder
Humble
June 23, 1924 - February 11, 2020
Born in Detroit, Michigan
Resided in Michigan
Harold Ryder Humble, age 95, of Dearborn, formerly of Farmington, Mason and Grand Haven, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020. He was born June 23, 1924 in Detroit to Joseph and Ethel Mary (Ryder) Humble. Both parents were from England and his father was a foreman at Henry Ford’s Rouge Steel Plant. He attended Detroit’s Southwestern High School, where he was a star runner and lettered in Track and Field.
Pearl Harbor was attacked when Harold was a senior in high school, and he immediately knew he would have to enlist. Upon graduation he was sent to officers’ training, but was later transferred to the 10th Mountain Division to manage and train pack mules. He was deployed to northern Italy, where the rough mountainous terrain dictated that mules carry the artillery. He and the mules must not have gotten along, as he disliked mules for the rest of his life. When the war ended, he remained in Italy as part of the 5th Army Track and Field Team, where he competed in individual and relay races against other Allied military track teams. He received many medals and official commendations for his athletic successes.
He was discharged from the Army in 1946 and entered Western Michigan University. At Western he was the Captain of the Track and Field team and won many medals, most for the 440, his best event. He tried out for the Olympics at Madison Square Garden and came very close to qualifying. He later earned a Master’s Degree from The University of Michigan.
While at Western he met Norma Jane Hooper. They were married in 1949 and by 1958 had four children (Susan, John, Jeff and Steve) and had moved to Farmington, Michigan. Harold was a math and science teacher for the Farmington School District and coached track and basketball, became the Assistant Principal of Farmington High School in 1958, and in 1961 became the first Principal of the new North Farmington High School. He was proud to have initiated some of the first high school female sports teams, and always had great affection for the staff and students of North Farmington.
In 1967 he and the family moved to Kodaikanal, India, where he was the Principal of Kodaikanal School, a K-12 American-accredited boarding school in the hills of South India with 300 American and international students from all over the world. His many adventures there included hiking in wild elephant country and visiting the Taj Mahal.
After returning to the U.S., in 1970, Harold spent the rest of his career as a front office administrator with various school districts. When he retired, he and Jane moved to Grand Haven, Michigan, where he served on the Board of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum and other city committees. He and Jane were also members of the United Methodist Church of the Dunes. In 2013 they moved to Henry Ford Village in Dearborn.
Harold had many friends in all of the places the family lived. He loved woodworking, followed current events, and was especially interested in history, astronomy, and antique cars. He maintained his curiosity and thirst for knowledge until the very end of his life.
He was a gentle, intelligent and caring man of great character. He lived by the following words, which were taped to his dresser mirror so that he would see them every day:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can
As long as ever you can.
He is greatly missed by his children Susan Sridharan (Sridhar), John (Janet), Jeff (Janell) and Steve (Carolyn), grandchildren Mali, Kasey, Kyle, Cameron, Katie, Julia and Cole, extended family, and good friends.
Family will receive friends Sunday, March 15 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the Edison Room at Henry Ford Village, 15101 Ford Rd (at Greenfield Rd) Dearborn.
Pearl Harbor was attacked when Harold was a senior in high school, and he immediately knew he would have to enlist. Upon graduation he was sent to officers’ training, but was later transferred to the 10th Mountain Division to manage and train pack mules. He was deployed to northern Italy, where the rough mountainous terrain dictated that mules carry the artillery. He and the mules must not have gotten along, as he disliked mules for the rest of his life. When the war ended, he remained in Italy as part of the 5th Army Track and Field Team, where he competed in individual and relay races against other Allied military track teams. He received many medals and official commendations for his athletic successes.
He was discharged from the Army in 1946 and entered Western Michigan University. At Western he was the Captain of the Track and Field team and won many medals, most for the 440, his best event. He tried out for the Olympics at Madison Square Garden and came very close to qualifying. He later earned a Master’s Degree from The University of Michigan.
While at Western he met Norma Jane Hooper. They were married in 1949 and by 1958 had four children (Susan, John, Jeff and Steve) and had moved to Farmington, Michigan. Harold was a math and science teacher for the Farmington School District and coached track and basketball, became the Assistant Principal of Farmington High School in 1958, and in 1961 became the first Principal of the new North Farmington High School. He was proud to have initiated some of the first high school female sports teams, and always had great affection for the staff and students of North Farmington.
In 1967 he and the family moved to Kodaikanal, India, where he was the Principal of Kodaikanal School, a K-12 American-accredited boarding school in the hills of South India with 300 American and international students from all over the world. His many adventures there included hiking in wild elephant country and visiting the Taj Mahal.
After returning to the U.S., in 1970, Harold spent the rest of his career as a front office administrator with various school districts. When he retired, he and Jane moved to Grand Haven, Michigan, where he served on the Board of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum and other city committees. He and Jane were also members of the United Methodist Church of the Dunes. In 2013 they moved to Henry Ford Village in Dearborn.
Harold had many friends in all of the places the family lived. He loved woodworking, followed current events, and was especially interested in history, astronomy, and antique cars. He maintained his curiosity and thirst for knowledge until the very end of his life.
He was a gentle, intelligent and caring man of great character. He lived by the following words, which were taped to his dresser mirror so that he would see them every day:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can
As long as ever you can.
He is greatly missed by his children Susan Sridharan (Sridhar), John (Janet), Jeff (Janell) and Steve (Carolyn), grandchildren Mali, Kasey, Kyle, Cameron, Katie, Julia and Cole, extended family, and good friends.
Family will receive friends Sunday, March 15 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the Edison Room at Henry Ford Village, 15101 Ford Rd (at Greenfield Rd) Dearborn.
Memorial Open House
Henry Ford Village
15101 Ford Rd
Dearborn, MI US 48126
Dearborn, MI US 48126
in the Edison Room
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