Harold Clinton Rader, 77, of Butler, passed away Friday, June 2, 2023, while under the care of Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born on April 14, 1946, in New Castle, he was the son of the late Clinton Clayton and Evelyn Mae (Gilliland) Rader.
Harold was a proud and hardworking dairy farmer. He married his wife of 54 years, Barbara (Allen) Rader, on Oct. 4, 1969, after they met at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. In addition to milking cows twice a day, crop farming and raising his family, Harold drove buses for Butler Motor Coach and was also a school bus driver for many years.
In high school, Harold was involved in the Butler Area FFA Chapter of Pennsylvania, earning his Keystone State Farmer Degree. In 1967, he earned the FFA's highest honor, the degree of American Farmer. He was also a Butler County 4-H member.
Harold truly lived a life of service. He was a member of the Pennsylvania and National Holstein and Ayrshire associations and was also a member of the Pennsylvania and Butler County farm bureaus. He was a member of the Butler County Borough Association, where he served as president, and was a director on the Farm Credit Board, Connoquenessing Borough Council and was mayor, serving nearly 50 combined years.
He also loved the Butler Farm Show and was an exhibitor for 65 consecutive years. His family earned the Butler Farm Show Eagle Bowl farm family award in 1980, 1988 and 2000. In his free time, Harold enjoyed playing cards, attending auctions, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball and playing the lottery.
Above all, he loved his family and cherished time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.
Harold leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife, Barbara Rader; his children, Lona (Steve) Peters, Harold "Junior" Rader, Sharon (Jarod) Brown, John (Conley) Rader and Elaina (Eric) Eppinger; his grandchildren, Robin Peters, Amelia Brown, Brooklyn Peters, Cody Brown, Shelby Rader, Reagan Rader, Naomi Rader and Brynn Rader; his sisters, Karen (Mike) Lyons, Myrna (Tom) Robson and Deborah (Ronald) Schettler; his Aunt Katherine "Kay" Burr; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
RADER - Friends and family of Harold Clinton Rader, who died Friday, June 2, 2023, will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 at the BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME OF CONNOQUENESSING, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew PA 16053.
Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the celebration of life at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home with Pastor Reid Moon officiating.
Harold will be laid to rest at Butler County Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made in Harold's honor to the Butler Farm Show Historical Project, c/o Butler Farm Show Inc., 625 Evans City Road, Butler PA 16001.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.