Audrey Ruth Rials Hardin

Lt. Col. Audrey Ruth (Rials) Hardin, USAF (Ret.), 96, died on Tuesday, August 17, 2022, in Ridgeland. Born on May 15, 1926, Audrey was the third of six children born to Arthur Brown and Bessie Way Rials in Georgetown, Mississippi. After graduating from Georgetown High School in 1944, Audrey earned a degree in nursing from Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and worked as a surgical nurse at Gray’s Hospital in Batesville, Arkansas, and at Baptist Hospital in Jackson before joining the United States Air Force in 1950. During her military career, she served as an operating room nurse at Goodfellow AFB, Texas; with the 36th Medical Group in Furstenfeldbruck and Bitburg, Germany; Orlando AFB, Florida; Gunter AFB, Alabama; Johnson AFB, North Carolina; Tachikawa AB, Japan; Chanute AFB, Illinois; at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, where she was Chief Surgical Nurse. Throughout her career, she was consistently rated as a superior operating room nurse and model officer.

Following retirement from the USAF in 1970, Audrey worked for several local physicians on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and engaged in the real estate business for a number of years with her husband. In 1971, Audrey married Lt. Col. William A. (Bill) Hardin, USAF (Ret.). While they had no children of their own, Audrey and Bill served as surrogate parents for neighborhood children, adopted stray pets and lent assistance to anyone who needed a helping hand. Throughout her life, Audrey was generous, sometimes to a fault, and resolutely believed that she should share her good fortune with those in need. While living on the Gulf Coast at Lyman, Audrey helped organize Gateway United Methodist Church.

Following her husband’s death in 1991, Audrey moved to Jackson and later to Ridgeland to live with her sister Pauline. After moving to Ridgeland, Audrey became an active member of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Madison and faithfully attended the Open Door Sunday School Class for many years. She also attended Sharon UMC. With Pauline’s death in 2015, Audrey generously shared her home with her nephew and his wife. As Audrey’s health declined in recent months, Rosa Ann Woodrick, her last surviving sibling, lovingly cared for her in her home. The family thanks the members of the Hospice Ministries staff, especially Taylor, Gloria and Jessica, for their kindness and professionalism during this difficult time.

Audrey Hardin is preceded in death by her husband, William A. Hardin; her parents Arthur and Bessie Rials; brothers W D (“Dub”) and Paul A. (“Bud”) Rials; sisters Mary Florence and Pauline “Sis” Rials, and her beloved poodle “Pepper.” She is survived by sister Rosa Ann Woodrick; nephews Aaron (Lark) Rials, Tommy (Cynthia) Rials, Terry (Ann) Rials; Donnie (Cindy) Rials; Roger Rials; Paul Rials, Steve Rials, and Jim (Mary Margaret) Woodrick; nieces Norma Russell, Mary Joyce (James) Cummings, and Brenda (Randy) Way. She is also survived by members of the Hardin family, numerous great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and longtime friends Leroy (Kimberly) Pace, Jackie Jackson (Brian) Groake and Audrey Burbank and family.

A committal service will be held at the Biloxi National Cemetery on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 7427 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110; the Women in Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite #400, Arlington, VA 22203; or other charity of your choice.