Harry Andrew Rich

Harry Andrew Rich, 98, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026. He was born on July 14, 1927 in Jefferson, Pennsylvania to Daniel and Martha (Sharpnack) Rich. Harry attended a one room schoolhouse until he attended and graduated from Carmichaels, PA High School.

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. They married and planted the Granite Street Church of the Nazarene in Quincy, MA.

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

From Kansas City they moved to the Ferguson, St. Louis Church of the Nazarene where they pastored for 3 years. They were appointed to serve as District Superintendents 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 the 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 2 weeks into Rwanda and Zaire and back out to Kenya for 2 weeks. This ministry lasted for 2 years and was carried out mostly in refugee camps because the church in Rwanda had been decimated.

In 2 years, Harry organized 43 churches in refugee camps, started dozens of schools for children in the camps, administered Nazarene Compassionate Ministry relief funding, and started the Bible School for French Theological Education.

At the age of 70, per Manual of the Church of the Nazarene, missionaries must retire. Harry and Marion Rich moved back to Waynesburg on the Pittsburgh District. Over his retirement years Harry has served as Sunday School teacher, evangelist, and as interim pastor for a number of Nazarene churches on the Pittsburgh District.

Harry is survived by his children, Dwight (Carolyn) Rich, Sharon Rich (Gary) Cash, and Vicki Rich (Daryl) Wicks, his grandchildren Bryan (Jen) Rich, Stefanie Rich (Aaron) Phelps, Lyndon Harvey, Lauren Harvey (Braden) King, Shaelah Wicks, Jaclyn Wicks (Josiah) Eckstein, and Mitchell Wicks, and his great grandchildren, Charles Phelps, Henry Phelps, Brooks Rich, Halston Rich, Logan King, Addison King, and Riley King.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Martha Rich, his wife, Marion Rich, and his older brother, Scott Rich.

Services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Harry’s memory be made to The Gideon's International at www.gideons.org

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