WILLARD JAY HARDING, 79, of Bridgeport, died Friday, June 6, 2008 at East Ohio Regional Hospital, Martins Ferry. He was born November 22, 1928 in Bridgeport, the son of the late Walter and Elizabeth (Woods) Harding. Willard retired from Wheeling Machine Products and was a member of Lancaster Chapel United Methodist Church in Sunset Heights. He was past master of the Ohio City Lodge 486 MF; a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Valley of Steubenville; a Royal Arch Mason with Martins Ferry Chapter 173; a life member of Past Masters Association 23rd Ohio Masonic District; a past educational officer of the 23rd Masonic District and was a member of the Bridgeport Forrester's Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Ann (Smith) Harding on April 20, 1999; seven brothers Oliver, Frank, Sherwood, Lawrence, Leroy, Paul and Walter Harding, Jr.; five sisters Margaret McCloud, Elizabeth Ghent, Gertrude Moore, Helen Briggs and Mildred Lyle; as well as a grandson Derek Harding. Willard is survived by three sons Norman and his wife Judy of Bridgeport, Wayne and his wife Kathy of St. Clairsville and Richard and his wife Peri of Dutton, MT; a daughter Deborah Kolb and her husband Bob of St. Clairsville; two sisters Betty Tracy of Martins Ferry and Etta Helms and her husband Arguell "Mutt" of Martins Ferry; 12 grandchildren Brent and Liz Kolb of Ann Arbor, MI, Ryan and Jill Kolb of Columbus, OH, David and Kari Kolb of Lexington, KY, Roger and Kari Yockey of St. Clairsville, Scott and Mandi Moore of Belmont, Daniel and Nicole Grady of Bellaire, Chace and Erin Smith of Hopedale, Todd and Christel Harding of Maynard, Brent and Shayna Conaway of St. Clairsville, Rachelle Holstein of St. Clairsville, Paul and Tisha Cote' of Missoula, MT and Corey Harding of Great Falls, MT; as well as 15 great grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday 5 - 9 pm at Wilson Funeral Home, 920 National Rd., Brookside where Masonic Services will be held at 7 pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 am at the funeral home with Reverends James Hildebrand, Donald Cordery and Richard Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Holly Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to Lancaster Chapel United Methodist Church or to the Bridgeport Alumni Association.