Monica C. Harding

Monica C. Harding, age 81, of Dover, passed away on March 6, 2026, while under the care of Crossroads Hospice at Park Village Health Care Center in Dover, following a period of declining health.

Born in Follansbee, West Virginia, on November 25, 1944, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Leona Brandt Cooper. After graduating from Follansbee High School in 1962, Monica earned a nursing degree from the Ohio Valley School of Nursing in 1965. She moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she began her nursing career at the Ohio State Medical Center. It was there that she met her future husband, William “Bill” Harding, who lived in the apartment above hers. A memorable phone call sparked their romance, and they married on May 19, 1973. The couple raised their two daughters in New Philadelphia.

Monica was known for her warmth and skill in the kitchen, where she prepared meals that family and friends treasured. She volunteered at Union Hospital, enjoyed playing tennis, and was an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast. She and Bill shared many happy times with friends through couples volleyball at the YMCA and playing bridge. Above all, her family was the center of her life. She cherished card games, beach vacations, and dinners out with those she loved, always ready to support them in any way she could.

A woman of deep faith, Monica was a longtime active member of the New Philadelphia First United Methodist Church. She served her church community by preparing bereavement meals, working at the Tuesday Supper Table, and volunteering at the Lighthouse Youth Center.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 52 years, Bill; her daughters, Elizabeth (Edward) Kiser of Fremont, Ohio, and Emily (Kyle) Gephart of Columbus, Ohio; and her grandchildren, Will, Lily, and Tommy Kiser, and Grace and Annie Gephart. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Cooper.