SFC "Bob" Robert Dean Harding

Services for SFC Robert Dean (Bob) Harding (US Army ret), 80, of Columbia, will be held at 12:00 P.M. (Noon) Friday, January 29, 2016 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park, with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., prior to the service at the funeral home. SFC Harding died on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Born December 5, 1935 in Miami, FL SFC Harding was a long-time resident of Columbia. He was the owner of Harding Maintenance and Janitorial Service. Surviving are his wife, Philomena Rama Harding; children, Michael D. (Tina) Harding, Roger A. (Amanda) Harding, Dale A. (Susan) Harding, Leilani T. (Michael) Scaturro, and Wendy M. (Shawn) Daughtry; 11 grandchildren; as well as a sister, Dixie Lee (Ralph) Roberts. SFC Harding served in the US Army from 1953 until he retired in 1973. He was a veteran of Vietnam and served two tours. He was stationed at army installations in the United States, Europe and Korea. Included among his many citations, letters of appreciation and medals are: the Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Good Conduct Medal 6th Award; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars, the RVN Training Medal; the Armed Forces Unit Citation; as well as the Drill Sergeant Badge. SFC Harding was a Mason, and a Life Member of the VFW Post 641, Columbia. The Harding family would like to express its appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, the VA Community Life Center, and to Providence Hospital for their outstanding care. The family would also like to thank Mr. Jerry Huggins, of the Veterans Affairs Office in Dillon, SC for his help and support.