Submitted by: Dan Rich

Dale C. Harding

March 22, 1913 - Nov. 28, 2002

South Bend Tribune 12/3/2002

Dale C. Harding, 89, of Lake Wales, Fla., formerly of South Bend, died at 4:59 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Fla., following an illness. Mr. Harding was born March 22, 1913, in Corunna, Ind., and lived in South Bend from 1943 until moving to Lake Wales in 1982.

On Nov. 5, 1933, in Kendallville, Ind., he married Anna N. "Betty" Merkling who preceded him in death July 3, 1989. In May of 1990, he married Mary C. Hosmer who preceded him in death earlier this year.

He is survived by two sons, David L. (Danice) Harding of Middlebury, Ind., and Larry D. (Janice) Harding of Granger, Ind.; nine grandchildren, Todd Harding, Brian (Maria) Harding, Colleen Denbow, Michael (Julie) Harding, Cheryl (Rob) Newland, Tonia (Phil) Pixley, Tori (Oliver) Pierson, Tod (Sue) Richard and Ty Richard; 16 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Joyce (George) Gillespie of Paolo, Kan.

Mr. Harding retired from the Bendix Corporation as a supervisor in the brake and steering division in 1978. He previously had owned a grocery store in Goshen, Ind., for eight years and then was employed by the former Ward Baking Company for 25 years. He also owned his own business known as Harding Woodworking for many years. He enjoyed his 30 years in Florida following retirement and pursuing his passion of woodworking and cabinetry building. He was a former member of Central United Methodist Church in South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of services on Wednesday in the funeral home.