Add “Jack” Hardy Jr. died on November 2nd, 2019, at the age of 91, at his home in Naples, Florida, with members of his family by his side after a long illness.
Add was born in Dehue, West Virginia, a coal-mining town on 28 May 1928. Add grew up in rural Lewis County.
Add was the third of four sons born to Myrtle Esham Hardy and Addison Hardy of Lewis County. He attended the United Methodist Church and was a 32nd Degree Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, for which he was very proud. Add left Lewis County High School at the age of 17 to join the US Navy. During WWll, he served in the pacific fleet aboard the USS Estes as a seaman 2nd class serving in the China area of operations where he received the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon. After the war Add returned to Lewis County, finished high school and enlisted in the US Army where he served in Germany during the occupation, later completing Glider training as a member of the last graduating class. When North Korea invaded South Korea Adds unit, A Company 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division was deployed and participated in one of the most epic battles in US military history, The Battle of Chosen Reservoir. After Korea, he returned home and transferred to the US Army Reserve, completed Airborne school and became Special Forces Qualified. Add moved to Columbus Ohio, attended night school earning a degree in Engineering and was hired by North American Rockwell where he retired after over 30 years.
Add enjoyed his life, he had many stories of growing up in rural Lewis County. If he were here today he would want to thank some of those that made his life whole. At the top of the list is family and close survivors, the most important, is Wilma, she was always the love of his life and lifelong best friend, they suffered through the worst of times and best of times together, always side by side.
Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 70 years Wilma Burton Hardy, whom he eloped with and married on January 7, 1949 (Her mother was not happy); five children, Jackie Mae (Karl) France of Venice, Florida; Steven Add (Jody) Hardy of Franktown, Colorado,, Rebecca Lee (John) Schlanger of Sugar Grove, Ohio, Diane (Todd) Gallion of Whitehall, Ohio, and Michael Douglas (Kathy) Hardy of Portland, Oregon; his granddaughter Vanessa, of Naples, Florida, who grew up in their home; a brother, Douglas Hardy of Freeport, Florida; a half-sister, Patty Toller of Vanceburg; and a half-brother, Glenn of Pickering, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Leon Hardy and Bruce Hardy; and a sister, Joyce.
Services will be Sunday, November 17, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at Gaydos Funeral Home in Vanceburg with Pastor Bob Sweeney officiating. Burial will follow in Lewis County Memory Gardens at Black Oak.
Military graveside rites will be accorded by the Monte Lewis Stamm VFW Post 5438 of Vanceburg.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 16, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Gaydos Funeral Home, 159 Second Street in Vanceburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Wounded Warrior Foundation, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gaydosfh.com.
