Virgil A. Hardin

Virgil Alfred Hardin passed away at the age of 91 on Saturday, June 27, 2015. He was born on October 19, 1923, in Brownsville, Edmonson County, Kentucky, to Hannibal Edward Hardin, and Lena Emaline Massey Hardin. Hannibal and Lena had 4 other children, all daughters, Irene Eugenia, Macy Verdene, Lola Mae and Novella. He loved to attend his little country school in Asphalt, KY, where it has been said he was “quite the ham!” As a coincidence, his teacher in the 2nd grade happened to be Pearly Alice, the mother of his then-future wife, Emma. He loved to be in plays and he could recite, dance, act and sing and do just about anything they asked him. Unfortunately, he was unable to go as much as he wanted because he was needed on the farm. He started working in the fields like a little man when he was just 7 years old. He worked right along with his “big” little sister, Irene, and then his other sisters joined in the labor as they got what was considered to be “old enough” for those times. Lena passed away when Virgil was 8 years old, and his father later married Glenna Mae Sanders. Virgil was to be blessed with 9 more siblings: 8 boys and 1 girl; Randall, Rinzo, H.M., Harold “Pokey”, Eddie, Larry Joe, Carol Jo (died at age 2), David (also died at age 2), and Joel (who was stillborn).

Virgil was drafted into the US Army in the 40’s and spent 2 tours in Germany as WWII ended. He married his wife of 65 years, Emma Elane Kinser, on September 3, 1948 in Edmonson County. They had 4 children, Virgil Thomas Hardin, Teddy Alfred Hardin, JoAnn Hardin, and John Timothy Hardin.

Virgil, “Shorty” or “Virg” was a heavy equipment operator with the IUOE (International Union of Operating Engineers) Local 181. His handiwork can be seen in many places in and around Louisville and other cities and states surrounding Kentucky. He helped build dams, flood walls, buildings, parking lots, and many, many roads. Besides that, he was a “jack of all trades.” He proved his skills by doing his own home and car maintenance and by helping his children, neighbors, and friends paint houses; build decks, fences and porches; grade properties; do gardening; lay sod, tile, carpet; do electrical and plumbing work; install appliances, etc, etc, etc. You name it and if he didn’t know how to do it, he would figure it out.

Virgil was a God-fearing man and greatly loved the Lord. He attended the Church of Christ when his children were growing up and made sure that they had a good Christian education at Portland Christian School. In later years he became a member and subsequently a deacon at Evangel World Prayer Center.

Due to a sudden onset of pain in his right leg from vascular problems, he was taken to the ER by ambulance on Sunday, May 31. After a failed surgical attempt to save his leg, he endured an above the knee amputation on June 5. He entered a Rehab facility on June 9 with high hopes of getting strong and self reliant enough to come home and live out the rest of his days. However, many complications developed and he was readmitted to the hospital on Saturday, June 20. After all efforts were made to combat his congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and an abdominal aortic aneurism, and no more could be done for him except to make him more comfortable, he died peacefully at 7:15 pm on Saturday, June 27, 2015.

We will sorely miss him, but we know he is in a much better place and we like to think he was met in Heaven and received into the arms of his mother, Lena, (who he talked about often during his life) walking on both of his legs!

He is survived by:

Spouse: Emma Elane Hardin, Louisville, KY

4 Children: Virgil Thomas Hardin, Son, Mansfield, TX - (Spouse, Suzanna Picazo Hardin)

Dr. Teddy Alfred Hardin, Son, Tuscaloosa, AL

JoAnn Hardin, Daughter, Louisville, KY

John Timothy Hardin, Son, Louisville, KY-(Spouse, Dusty Callahan Hardin)

10 Grandchildren: Arianna Kirk, Jerica Broeckling, Adam Hardin, Tabitha Hurt, Hope Hardin, John T. Hardin, Kristen Bradley, Jessica Mustapha, Ryan Callahan, Caitlin Callahan

15 Great Ava & Nadia Kirk; Luke & Madeline Broeckling; Katherine, Jacob Virgil, Michaela,

Grandchildren Jillian & Monroe Hurt; Andy, Lilly & Emma Bradley; Liam Callahan; Jacob Ali Mustapha.

5 Siblings: Irene Raymer Hamblen, Lola Mae Clark, Randall Hardin, Eddie Hardin,

Larry Joe Hardin.

He was predeceased by:

9 Siblings: Carol Jean Hardin, David Hardin, Joel Hardin, Rinzo Hardin,

Novella Seabolt, Harold Hardin, H.M. Hardin, Macey Denham

Services will be at Arch L. Heady Funeral Home, 8519 Preston Hwy, Lou, KY 40219. Visitation is from 2-8 pm on Thurs, July 2. Funeral Service, at the same location, will be at 12 noon on Friday, July 3. Burial is to follow at Crosswater Gardens Cemetery, 7110 Billtown Rd (on the premises of Evangel World Prayer Center). For more information, including a memory video and an opportunity to offer online condolences to the family, please visit www.archlheadypreston.com.