John Allen Harding

John is survived by his devoted and loving wife MariaElena Barker Harding and numerous nieces and nephews. “Uncle John” was born February 9, 1934 in Toledo, OH to Herman (Bus) and Ella Virginia Harding. John is preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Sarah Chiaverini and Patricia Woods; his brother Charles Herbert Harding; and nephew, Whitney Woods.

John was the third of four children. He ran track and played football at Libby High School. He enjoyed traveling the world as an aviator in the United States Navy. After serving his country, he returned to Toledo and finished his degrees at Ohio Weslayean University, Delaware, OH in Physical Education and where he was a Member of the Phi-Delta Pheta Fraternity, worked for many years in the Bedford, MI school district in the PE department. He loved to play tennis, run, all things athletic and he never met a cookie he didn’t like. In 1983, he moved to Hollywood, FL and soon after met the love of his life – MariaElena Dominica Barker. They married soon after on July 31, 1985 – making each other very happy for 38+ years. After 35+ years of prayers and help from Bishop Tim, John accepted God and The Blessed Virgin Mary and was baptized on May 16, 2020 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Miami. His Godparents are his nephew, Thomas Woods and Marcia Alfonso, a lifelong family friend and nurse.

A Requium Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 9:45 AM at the Church he attended with MariaElena, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 4801 W. Flagler St., Miami, FL 33134 (women must wear a veil to cover their heads), and his burial will follow at the Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, 6200 SW. 77 Avenue, Miami, FL 33143. (Please, do not send flowers; instead, send donations to his Church.)