Harold Ray Terpening of Abilene was born to Eileen (Frager) and Vance Terpening on October 7, 1949 in Washington, Kansas. He died on March 20, 2025, in Abilene, Kansas. He married Teresa Webb on November 26, 1971 in Woodston, Kansas.Together, they shared 49 years of marriage until her passing in August of 2021.

Harold attended elementary and secondary school in Morrowville, Kansas and graduated from High school in 1967. In high school, Harold earned acclaim as a sprinter at the league and state level. He attended and graduated from Kansas State University with a teaching degree in secondary education while also participating on the track and field team. He started as a classroom teacher in Axtell, KS. He attended Fort Hays State University, to earn a masters degree in school administration. Besides being a teacher Harold served as basketball and track coach in several Kansas schools, he later served as building principal in Morland, Lenora, Abilene, and Mankato. As a teacher, coach, and an administrator Harold was an integral member in the life of the school.

Through his career as a high school principal and coach he has impacted a number of families with stoic compassion and understanding. There are countless stories that kids could recall of his wisdom and fairness in dealing with day-to-day activities and their shenanigans. As a coach, he was determined to give every kid a chance to recognize their athletic ability. Harold was an active member of the churches in all of the communities he lived in, serving on boards, leading/attending bible studies as well as volunteering for camp clean up. During retirement, he enjoyed attending all the things for his granddaughters’, golfing, trading coins, and refereeing local games.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Teresa, infant daughter, Carol Ann, his granddaughter Camille, his parents Eileen and Vance Terpening, step- father Dean Cox, and in-laws Phyllis and Dee L. Webb.

He is survived and will be missed by son Jonathan Terpening (Sandy) and his daughters Brianna and Tia, daughter Kristy Miller (Kelly) and her daughters Konlynn and Bethany; step-sister Joyce Shutts (George); step-brother David (Faye) Cox, sisters-in-law Deborah (Kevin) Abbott; Rhonda (Gary) Renfro; Sonja (Malcolm) Penney; Monica (Bruce) Payeur and brother-in-law Dirk Webb and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Youth Camp fund at the First Christian Church of Abilene in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, KS 67410. The service will be held at the First Christian Church of Abilene at 11AM, Wednesday, March 26, 2025.