Lois A. Harding

Rockford, Lois (Harshman) Harding 94, of Rockford, passed away on September 12, 2021.
Born March 6, 1927 in Sterling, IL, daughter of William James and Verna (Hey) Harshman. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1944, North Central College with a BA degree in 1948, and Northern Illinois University with an MSED degree in 1967. She was married to Edward William Harding of DeKalb IL in 1953. She was employed in the financial departments of both Northwest Steel & Wire in Sterling IL and Hertz Car Rental in Denver CO. Additionally, she was a working partner in Hey Brothers Ice Cream Co. in DeKalb, IL. She was later employed in the Financial Section of General Electric for eight years. Her son, George William Harding, was born in 1956. In 1963, what she considered a great stroke of luck, lead her to her position as the Admissions/ Records Officer III in the graduate school of Northern Illinois University, from which she retired in 1988. Being a very active woman, retirement did not suit her well, so she moved to Woodstock and began working again as a legal Secretary for the States Attorney’s office there in 1989 and remained in this position until 1992 when she finally retired. While living in Woodstock, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and held duties as Church Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent and Sunday School Teacher. In 1997 she moved to the Wesley Willows Retirement community in Rockford, IL. There, she served as Treasurer of Wesley Willows Auxiliary and other activities. Being a lover of dogs, Lois was also responsible for convincing Wesley Willows to change their “No-Pet Rule”. Over the years, Lois volunteered at Dekalb Hospital, Woodstock hospital and Rockford Memorial Hospital, where she was honored after 20 years of volunteering in their surgical waiting room. She also volunteered as a student mentor at Kishwaukee Grade school in Rockford IL and was a long-time member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Rockford.

She will be survived by those who loved her most, her grandchildren Michelle (Timothy) Young, Eddie (Taylor) Harding and Dakota Harding; her great grandchildren William and Sierra Young; her sister Vera (Ross) Boone numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved dog, Babe. She is predeceased in death by her son George; her brothers Dale, Paul, Gene, and Joel Harshman.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. until the time of memorial service at 4:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to World Wildlife Federation or St. Judes. To send online condolences, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com