Bill Hardin

He was born December 25, 1921 in Bronte, Texas to John Otis Hardin and Lillie Mae Patterson Hardin. He was the youngest of four boys. His brothers, Waymon, George, Otis and Earl all preceded him in death. He graduated from Ackerly High School and attended college at Howard Payne in Brownwood.

When Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, he joined the U.S. Navy. He entered under a program that allowed him to graduate from college, and then attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned as a First Lt. in the U.S. Navy and served on a destroyer before volunteering for a hazardous duty assignment. The assignment involved training in an elite corps called an Underwater Demolition Team, precursor of the modern day Navy Seals. He served on UTD Team 16 during the remainder of the war, swimming in and blowing up coral reefs so the Marines could land on islands all through the Pacific theatre. He was awarded a Purple Heart.

When the war ended he returned to Texas where he married Agnes Walker. Bill worked for Pacific Finance for several years before opening a Ford dealership in Dublin, Texas in 1963. Hardin Ford Sales operated for 25 years until Bill and Agnes retired to Cassie at Lake Buchanan. They spent the next several years watching their grandchildren in school and sports activities. They were active in Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church. His wife, Agnes and son, Phil preceded him in death.

He is survived by a daughter, Linda Humphries and husband David of Burnet, three grandchildren: Todd Humphries and wife Shelly of Llano, Cresta Tate and husband Joey of Liberty Hill and Stacy Beall and husband Jerrod of Big Spring; 7 great-grandchildren, Rylee, Brooke, and Austin Humphries, Malory and Hudson Tate, and Hailey and Addison Beall. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. “B”, as his grandchildren knew him, was always full of life and energy, and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 14, 2011, at Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church with David Humphries and Reverend Kevin McDonald officiating. Interment followed at Post Mountain Cemetery in Burnet. Those named as pallbearers were Jim Nance, Terry Petrick, Jerrod Beall, Joey Tate, Tommy Moore, and Glenn Bridges, David Lawrence, and Todd Humphries.

Memorials in memory of Bill may be made to Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church. Friends and family are encouraged to share thoughts and memories at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home Burnet, Texas.