Bill Hardin
Bill Hardin, 89, of Burnet died Feb. 12, 2011. He was born Dec. 25, 1921, in Bronte to John Otis Hardin and Lillie Mae Patterson Hardin.
He was the youngest of four boys. He graduated from Ackerly High School and attended college at Howard Payne in Brownwood. When Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, he joined the 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 lieutenant in the Navy and served on a destroyer before volunteering for an elite corps called an Underwater Demolition Team, precursor of the modern Navy Seals.
He served on UTD Team 16 during the remainder of the war, blowing up coral reefs so the Marines could land on islands across the Pacific theatre. He was awarded a Purple Heart.
When the war ended, he returned to Texas and married Agnes Walker. He 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 the couple 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.
Survivors include his daughter Linda Humphries and husband David of Burnet; 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; great-grandchildren Rylee, Brooke and Austin Humphries, Malory and Hudson Tate, and Hailey and Addison Beall; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Agnes; son Phil; and brothers Waymon, George, Otis and Earl.
A funeral service was Feb. 14 at Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church, 19135 Texas 29, with David Humphries and the Rev. Kevin McDonald officiating.
Interment followed at Post Mountain Cemetery in Burnet. Pallbearers included Jim Nance, Terry Petrick, Jerrod Beall, Joey Tate, Tommy Moore, Glenn Bridges, David Lawrence and Todd Humphries.
Memorials may be made to Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church. Friends and family may share thoughts and memories at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Arrangements handled by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 E. Texas 29 in Burnet, (512) 756-2222.