Willard married the love of his life, Betty Lehman Hart, in November 1954. Their 67 year union blessed them with 4 children: Brenda (Joe) Parzy; Keith (Loretta) Hart; Lori (Dave) Macko; Sandra Sullivan (Paul Reis), 8 grandchildren: Troy Smith; Hollie Smith Morris; Shelbie Blakey; Sydnie Blakey; Whitney Maffei Davis; Brandi Hart Murphy; Amanda Fissel; Lance Hart; and 10 great-grandchildren: Mackenzie, Koby, Diona, Aislyn, Lacey, Saige, Jr., Ryan, Ava, and Ana.
He is predeceased by his parents; 2 brothers, Frederick and Roger; grandson, Koby Carlisle.
He is survived by his sister, Annette Hart Brown; lifelong best friends, Robert & Barbara Jefferson; his 4 children; 8 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Willard attended public schools in Tampa: Oak Park Elementary, Franklin Junior High School and Hillsborough High School. After high school, he worked construction and later was employed at Continental Can Company from which he retired. After retirement he, along with 2 friends, started a remodeling business with which he worked until he once again retired.
He and his lifelong friend, Robert Jefferson, started a NASCAR memorabilia store. They travelled, along with their spouses, Betty and Bobbie, to exhibit, buy, sale, and trade memorabilia on the NASCAR circuit also attending the races.
He was fond of travel and loved vacationing in the North Carolina Mountains with his family and friends. Willard and Betty also visited Alaska and loved sharing their adventures. They, along with their travelling buddies, Bobbie & Robert, embarked on a cross country trip only to arrive in New York on 9/11.
Willard also enjoyed vegetable gardening – planting, growing and sharing the produce from his earth garden. He was an avid sportsman and would often listen to a game on the radio while watching a different game on TV. He loved fishing, bowling, NASCAR, baseball and football (Florida Gators, Tampa Bay Rays & Tampa Bay Buccaneers were his teams). He was an outstanding catcher on fast pitch softball teams for Uceta Baptist Church, Continental Can Company and Steelworkers Union #4939. He loved the game and he and his wife, Betty, made many lasting friendships.
He would be astonished and very humbled to know of the number of friends he made and the countless lives he touched in his 86 years, and the many people who truly love him.
Services for Willard Lansing Hart will be held at Hillsboro Memorial in Brandon, Florida on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, viewing: 11:00 – 12:00, Funeral Service: 12:00 with Graveside Interment Service to follow.
Mathew 25:21 “His Lord said unto him, Well done my good and faithful servant. . . . .
Enter then into the Joy of the Lord.”
The family of Willard L. Hart asks in lieu of flowers a donation be made in his name to the American Heart Association.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18