Obituary of Michael Dean Harding

Michael Dean Harding, 58, of Columbia, will be remembered as a man who loved his family and friends in word and service, valuing the time he spent with them and the ability to serve them. Born Wednesday, April 27, 1960, in Ft. Benning, GA, Mike passed away in Columbia, SC on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Visitation will be Monday, June 4, 2018, at Noon at Thompson Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia. Services will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Mike was proud of his children, Cole and Lydia. He enjoyed watching Cole practice and teach Karate, and he enjoyed watching Lydia perform with her dance company.  He was involved with Boy Scout Troop 400 of Columbia and enjoyed taking the scouts camping, teaching them new skills and helping them earn badges and ranks.

He will be remembered by family and friends as friendly to everyone he met – the kind of person who never met a stranger. Friends – old and new – could count on Mike to help them at a moment’s notice.

Mike had a big heart for animals and became a foster parent for many strays. He nursed many struggling animals back to health and many of those benefitted from his full-time guardianship.

Mike was an employee of Columbia Winair Company.

Mike is predeceased by his father, retired First Class Sgt. Robert Dean Harding. Survivors include his wife, Tina Roof Harding; children, Cole and Lydia Harding; mother, Philomena Rama Harding; siblings, Leilani “Terry” Harding Scaturro (Scat), Roger Harding (Amanda), Dale Harding (Susan), and Wendy Harding Daughtry (Shawn); and nieces and nephews, Reid and Resa Scaturro, Austin, Bailey, and Gavin Harding, Gantt, Ashleigh, and Graham Harding and Mollie Jane Daughtry.

Because of Mike’s dedication and passion for the Boy Scouts of America and for animal rescue, donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Columbia’s Boy Scout Troop 400 (indianwaters.org) of Columbia or to The Humane Society of Columbia, SC (humansociety.org).

Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com.