Harry Andrew Rich, 98, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on Monday, 23 February 2026. He was a retired missionary who served in Haiti for 14 years (1957-1971) and in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo from 1994-1997. He also served as a district superintendent, leading the Canada Quebec District from 1984-1994.

Harry was born 14 July 1927 in Jefferson, Pennsylvania, to Daniel and Martha (Sharpnack) Rich. Harry attended a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from Carmichaels High School, PA.

After high school, Harry entered the US Navy near the end of World War II. While on “shore leave,” he was led to the Lord by a Gideon holding services for military personnel. When Harry gave his heart to Jesus, he held nothing back. He figured out how to prepare a message and started services on the USS Little Rock. On shore leave in Italy, he purchased an accordion and taught himself to play so they could have music in the services on the ship. He led more than a dozen sailors to the Lord.

On home leave, Harry visited the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene in Pennsylvania and was sanctified. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended Eastern Nazarene College, where he met Marion Kish and later married her. Together they planted the Granite Street Church of the Nazarene in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Of the 23 countries that Harry visited in the Navy, Haiti impacted him the most. In 1957, the Church of the Nazarene appointed the couple as missionaries to Haiti. While on furlough in 1968-69, as well as doing deputation and studying at NTS, they planted the Belton Church of the Nazarene in Missouri. They served for 14 years in Haiti and then returned to pastor the Metropolitan Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1971 to 1981.

From Kansas City, they moved to the Ferguson Church of the Nazarene in St. Louis, Missouri, pastoring there for 3 years. Harry was appointed as superintendent of the Quebec, Canada District (French speaking) in 1984.

In 1994, the church asked them to move to Rwanda and Zaire (now Congo) and set up a French Theological Education program for pastors. They agreed but before they could move, genocide broke out in Rwanda. They went anyway but had to set up home base in Nairobi, Kenya.

Marion taught at the African Nazarene University, and Harry would travel for two weeks into Rwanda and Zaire and back out to Kenya for two weeks. This ministry lasted for two years and was carried out mostly in refugee camps because the church in Rwanda had been decimated.

While serving in this part of Africa, Harry spearheaded various ministries, including schools for children and theological education, respectively.

At 70, Harry retired and the couple moved back to Waynesburg on the Pittsburgh District. Over his retirement years, Harry served as Sunday school teacher, evangelist, and interim pastor for a number of Nazarene churches on the Pittsburgh District.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Martha Rich, his wife, Marion Rich, and his older brother, Scott Rich. He is survived by his children, Dwight Rich, Sharon Cash, and Vicki Wicks, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at a later date.