Joan Pearl Harding

Joanne "Joan" Pearl (Loveless) Harding, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend, passed away gently, surrounded by loved ones in her Loma Linda, California home on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Joan was born on April 12, 1929 in Oshawa, Ontario, to Mary and William Loveless, while they were working at the Seventh-day Adventist Kingsway College. Joan and her older brother Bill enjoyed their adventurous life, moving from Canada to Indiana, Illinois, and finally to California as the children of Seventh-day Adventist Youth Directors.

Joan attended La Sierra High School, Walla Walla College, and Loma Linda nursing school, where she met George Harding IV while playing volleyball with classmates. Joan was proud to be a graduate of the first baccalaureate nursing degree program from Loma Linda University.

In 1952, Joan and George married and moved to Worthington, Ohio, where they raised five daughters. Joan was active with her family—swimming, biking, snow skiing, participating in Pathfinders, taking cross-country road trips, enjoying Ocean City, MD beach vacations, spending weekends at Lakeside, and embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime European camping adventure.

She served her community in many ways—she taught English (ESL) to international students and co-founded Telemom, a hotline for mothers in need of emergency counseling.

Joan was a loyal friend and surrogate mother to many. She was warm, funny, grounded, and empowering to those she touched.

One of Joan's passions was travel. She would plan, prepare, and navigate international travel before the internet, GPS, and translation apps existed. She was thrilled to visit the major continents of the world with George, her daughters, extended family, and friends. Ask anyone, Joan Harding had class and style—she embodied classic elegance throughout her life, from dress to design.

Joan was a pillar of her SDA church in Worthington. She provided hospitality and a warm welcome to church members and visitors. Joan played a key role in the design and building of the new Worthington SDA Church on Granville Road.

In 2000, Joan and George moved back to her beloved California. She enjoyed participating in the Loma Linda University School of Nursing and School of Medicine Alumni Associations while George served as interim Chair of Psychiatry. As Blue Zone citizens, their faith, diet, lifestyle, and community resulted in full, long lives. When her beloved husband passed away in 2022, she continued to find joy in her faith, family, friends, and loving caregivers.

She loved her beautiful mountain view, the mockingbird singing in her chimney, spiritual music, See's candy, family visits, and connection.

Joan Harding is beloved by many. Her memory is with us forever. She has gone home to her Maker.

Joan is survived by her daughters Pam Libby, Mary Ann Schaepper (Hans), Carolyn Harding (Steve), Julia King, and Elizabeth Harding Harrington (Brian); 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held in Loma Linda, California on Friday, August 15 at 1:00pm at William Loveless Fellowship Hall, Loma Linda University Church, 11125 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92354. Live Stream link: https://www.lluc.org/live

A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 11:00am at Marion Cemetery, 620 Delaware Ave, Marion, OH 43302.