Carol Ethelyn Harden

It is with deep love and gratitude for a life well lived that we celebrate the remarkable life of Carol Ethelyn Harden. Born November 2, 1939, in Schenectady, New York, Carol lived a long and incredible life marked by compassion, service, and devotion to those she loved.

Though she was raised and grew up in Albany, New York, she always had the heart of a traveler. Life took her to many communities where she built lasting friendships and touched countless lives, including Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Newport, Rhode Island; Springfield, Illinois; and finally Lexington, South Carolina, where she spent her later years.

Carol was a nurse practitioner by calling and by profession. She attended Johns Hopkins University, where she earned two master’s degrees, one in Geriatrics and the other in Maternal and Child Health. Nursing was never simply a job to Carol. It was her calling. She believed deeply in the nobility of caring for others, and her servant’s heart made her a natural healer and advocate for those in need.

Some of her earliest professional passions were in maternal and child health. Carol often reflected that those years brought both some of the greatest joys and deepest sorrows of her career. She experienced the privilege of welcoming new life into the world and the heartbreak that sometimes accompanied it. Later in her career she devoted herself to geriatrics, where her warmth, patience, and compassion uplifted countless older adults and their families.

Even after retirement Carol never stopped serving others. She continued visiting residents in local retirement communities, offering companionship and encouragement, and helped organize and support a widows group at her church, providing comfort and fellowship to many.

Carol had a zest for life that was unmistakable. She loved to travel and approached life with optimism and curiosity. She always saw the glass half full, found the silver lining in difficult situations, and gave people the benefit of the doubt. Carol had a gift for seeing the good in others and lifting people up.

She was an accomplished piano player, an avid reader who especially enjoyed the mysteries of Agatha Christie, and she loved crafting and making handmade cards for family and friends.

Carol was an extraordinary and devoted mother who poured her heart into raising her children. From volunteering as a preschool music teacher to serving on the school board, she was always deeply involved in their lives. She served as a Girl Scout leader and neighborhood chairman for the Girl Scouts in Rhode Island, a Cub Scout den mother, and an active member of her church communities throughout her life.

She was also a proud and loving grandmother who delighted in her grandchildren and treasured every moment spent with them.

Carol was a champion for women and instilled in her children the importance of education, independence, and standing confidently in the world.

The love of Carol’s life was her husband, Hutch Harden. He was not only her partner but truly her soulmate. Together they built a full and beautiful life until his passing in 1994 on their 25th wedding anniversary. After more than 30 years apart, we take comfort in believing they are now reunited.

Carol was predeceased by her beloved husband, Hutch Harden; and her parents, Beulah and Jim Newton.

She is lovingly survived by her children, Debby Bumgarner (Jason) and Paul Harden (Tish); her cherished grandchildren, Noah, Joshua, Ridley, and Sawyer; and many extended family members and friends whose lives she touched.

Carol lived a life defined by faith, compassion, and love for others. While she will be deeply missed, her family finds comfort in knowing she is reunited with the love of her life.

A Memorial Service celebrating Carol’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church 5503 Sunset Boulevard Lexington, South Carolina 29072. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse at http://www.samaritanspurse.org Barr Price Funeral Home and Crematorium Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

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