Home of: Arda Harp

MEEKER | Longtime Meeker resident Arda Harp is this week’s “home of” honoree.
“I was born in Maybell and moved to Meeker when I was 6 months old. I’ve been here 81 years. My parents Harold and Estella Madsen moved to the Meeker area in 1925,” Arda explained. She married her late husband Bud Harp in 1948. They were married for 57 years.
Bud was born and raised in Rifle. He moved to Meeker after World War II. He worked for the family owned business started by his grandfather Thad Harp and his great-uncle Simp Harp, Harp Transportation, a transportation line between Meeker, Rifle and Denver. Later Bud was a self-employed heavy equipment operator. He also owned and operated a uranium mine. Bud was the Meeker Ski-Doo dealer for many years.
Arda worked for an attorney, an oil company and then for White River Electric. She retired from WREA in 1992.
Arda has four children and five granddaughters; son Steve Harp and his wife Kathy of Fruita and Steve’s daughters Alicia Watt and Lindsey Harp of Meeker; son Ed Harp, wife Lori and two daughters Jennie and Michelle of Orlando, Fla.; daughter Carla Gallaway, husband Jon and daughter Abbey Schmalz of Grand Junction; and daughter Paula Durress and husband David of Falls Church, Va.
“I love to travel, play bridge, read and do things with my family and friends,” said Arda.
“Meeker is a quiet place and it was a nice place to raise a family,” Arda added.