Alice Ruth Allshouse Harding, 90, of Tunkhannock, passed away November 15 at Geisinger Wyoming Valley after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Donald C. Harding, Jr.
Alice was born on December 27, 1924 to the late Clarence B. Allshouse and Florence (Phinney) Allshouse. She lived her childhood in Thurston Hollow on her parents farm.
After high school, Alice went to New York City to attend McDowell Designing and Dress Making School, graduating in 1944. She worked as a dress designer in New York and Chicago until her husband came home from the war. Alice is well remembered for her gift shop, the Weathervane. She loved helping people pick out “just the right” gift. It was one of her true callings. She retired from her shop in 1983 but continued to work in the Mary Go Round and the Paper Moon in Scranton.
Alice was the first woman to serve on Tunkhannock Borough Council. While on council she served on the police committee and helped to start the recycling program. Alice belonged to several organizations: including the Junior Woman’s Club and Tunkhannock Business Association. She was a founding member of the Committee for Fine Arts at the Court House in Wyoming County. Her lifelong passions included painting, gardening, making jewelry, cooking and sculpture. She especially enjoyed her weekly dates with her bridge club. Alice was a lifelong mentor to her family and friends. She enjoyed people and was a great advisor in many disciplines.
In addition to her parents and husband, Alice was preceded in death by her son, Donald C. Harding III and her sister, Margaret (Allshouse) Walters.
She is survived by her daughter, Jan Ambrutis and husband, John; her granddaughters, Marne Greenley (Jim) and Erika Edwards; her beloved great grandchildren, Ethan Greenley, Mercedes Shultz, Paige Greenley and Olivia Greenley; and her beloved cat, Fatty Lumpkin.
Visiting hours will be from 3 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday and a memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 11 am. from the Harding-Litwin Funeral Home in Tunkhannock, PA. Donations can be made to the Tunkhannock Public Library or Interfaith Friends, Tioga Street, Tunkhannock, PA in Alice’s memory.