He is survived by friend and partner Christa Drugan Marteny and her son Jack Drew of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; his children Vicki Ruth Harding and husband Ken Herring of Florence, Arizona, Gwen Lee Harding-Peets and husband Mike Peets of Staatsburg, New York, Eric Harding and wife Frances Aileen Harding of Baytown, Texas; grandchildren Chris Harding (wife, Alicia), Danielle Harding (husband, Nich), and David Harding (wife, Suzy); five great grandchildren; sisters Marian Thompson, Frances Law (husband, Albert), and Ruth Harding (wife, Rose May). Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by infant son Jeffrey John Harding, his wife of 57 years Ora Mae (nee Welcher), father Harry Gordon Harding, mother Mary Frances (nee Windsor), sister Elizabeth Pasti, and brother Harry Gordon Harding, Jr.
John was born in Akron, Ohio and grew up in Akron and Baltimore, Maryland. He received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois, where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
He served in the U.S. Army at the Ordnance Guided Missile School at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. John worked as a chemical engineer in various Exxon organizations with polyolefin processes. After early retirement he consulted in that area for several years.
For several years he was a member of Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in Clear Lake where he at one time served on the board and a few committees.
John always felt he had a good life and especially enjoyed his family. He took immense pride and joy watching his children and grandchildren grow into “fine adult citizens”. In person and via Marco Polo videos and Zoom video conferences he also took great pleasure in watching his great grandchildren develop and grow.
In lieu of usual remembrances, donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in Clear Lake, Texas, or a charity of your choice.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 6th, 2022 at 1pm.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Harding family may be shared at www.earthmanbaytown.com
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