Wilford Hardin

Wilford Harry Hardin of Elizabethtown, a Robeson County native, died peacefully, with his wife and children by his side, at Southeastern Hospice House on June 18, 2014 at the age of 78 following an extended illness.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Faye McCall Hardin, a daughter, Renee Hardin Summerlin and husband, Robin; a son, Wilford (Wilt) Hardin, Jr. and wife, Tracy; three granddaughters, Natalie, Ashley, and Heather Hardin all of Elizabethtown; sister in laws, Emma Julia Hardin of Raeford, Rose Hardin Herring (Charles) of Lumberton, Delaine R. Hardin of Fairmont, Peggy M. Casey of Burgaw; brother in laws, Wade A. Taylor, Jr. of Elizabethtown, and Howard Franklin McCall (Frances) of Angier; nieces Karen H. Wilson (Ronald) of Raeford, Kim H. Shepard (Barclay) of Poquoson, VA, Sharon H. Lawson (Robert) of Lumberton, Donna H. Driggers (Darwin) of Raleigh, JoAnne C. Summers (Pete) of Burgaw; and nephews Dale Taylor (Tracy) of Elizabethtown, Ronnie Hardin of Fairmont, David McCall (Belinda) of Willow Springs, Randy McCall (Barbara) of Clayton, and William (Bill) Casey of Burgaw, and several great nieces and nephews, three great, great nephews, and one great, great niece.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Henry Thomas and Dora Small Hardin, of Barnesville; his brothers, E.M. Hardin of Lumberton, Odell Hardin of Raeford, P.R. Hardin of Fairmont,; his sister, Clementine Hardin Taylor, a nephew Wade Archibald Taylor, III both of Elizabethtown; his father and mother in law, W. H. Taft and Dorothy B. McCall of Clarkton; and a brother in law, Robert Casey of Burgaw..

Born on September 22, 1935 to Henry Thomas and Dora Small Hardin, he was youngest of five children. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather. Wilford graduated from Barnesville High School in Robeson County and attended Hardbargers Business College in Charlotte. He was an avid sports fan and a natural and talented athlete. He was a standout basketball and baseball player during his school years and while he served in the military service. He played Border-Belt and Tri-County baseball for eight years and another 8 years with an Elizabethtown Baseball Team. He coached ladies softball in Elizabethtown for six years and he was a little league baseball coach in Elizabethtown for eleven years. He was respected and looked to and thought of as a Roll Model for the youth he worked with. He loved the game of golf and played it for over forty years, giving it up only because of his health. He was a former member of the Elizabethtown chapters of the Kiwanis and Optimist Clubs. He was a service veteran, having served in the National Guard from 1953 to 1956 and the United States Air Force from 1956 through 1960. His Basic Training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonia, Texas and then he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia from 1956 through 1960. He was an Air Policeman. He loved his country and was proud to be a veteran.

Wilford was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown from 1964 until his death. Prior to becoming a member at Trinity, he was, from birth until 1964, a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church in the small Robeson County community of Barnesville, N.C. Wilford was a Church Usher, a Methodist Men's member, and served on the Administrative Board for a number of years.

After his Honorable Discharge from the United States Air Force, he moved to Dublin, in Bladen County, to be close to his Mother and was employed by Paul H. Sessoms Wholesale Company where he worked for many years, In the early 1980's he worked with Peanut Processors in Dublin before going into business for himself operating Hardin's Exxon and Hardin's Texaco in Elizabethtown. For more than 30 years he worked with his brother-in-law and sister, Wade and Clementine Taylor and nephew, Dale at T & T Tire Service, Inc. in Elizabethtown after which he retired due to health issues.

Wilford was very personable and friendly and was loved by all who knew him. He was kind-hearted, soft-spoken, easygoing, and honest; he always had a smile and cheerful greeting to all he met. It was not unusual for Wilford to give help to anyone he could. People put their trust in Wilford, and he gave that trust, and more, back to the public.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home, Elizabethtown, N.C. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Elizabethtown. Burial will follow at Old Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery in Elizabethtown, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church (Youth Fund), Elizabethtown, NC; Bethesda Methodist Church, Orrum, NC; or Southeastern Hospice House, Lumberton, NC; or any other charity of choice.