Charles Lesley “Les” Hardin, 87, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Missouri. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private family graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, May 22, 2020, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri. The service will be streamed via Facebook Live at Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Memorial Park Cemetery Facebook page for those unable to attend. A Celebration of Life event will be held once restrictions are lifted.
Les was born February 22, 1933, to Dewey B. and Rachael (McCallister) Hardin of Brown’s Station, Missouri. He was a graduate of University High School in Columbia, Missouri. Les was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force after serving during the Korean War. He went on to serve as three-time Commander of VFW Post 280, in Columbia, Missouri, and was honored to participate as a veteran on Central Missouri Honor Flight #45 on April 18, 2017.
Les worked as an ironworker for many years before founding W&L Steel Erectors with his wife, Wanda, in 1989. They joined forces with another couple in 1995 to build an additional company, A&H Steel Erectors. Many of the buildings we see around central Missouri were built under the direction of Les and his team. The Hardin’s celebrated 30 years of success by selling both companies in 2019.
Les and Wanda also built and operated Catfish Corner in Columbia, Missouri, where they served the best catfish and hushpuppies for over 10 years. Even after Les’ health prevented them from continuing daily operations, he donated equipment and supplies so that VFW Post 280 could continue frying up his specialties most Friday nights.
When Les wasn’t working, he invested in raising and racing quarter horses throughout the Midwest. Les loved to play poker and test his luck on scratch off lottery tickets or visits to casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Biloxi, and Atlantic City.
Although Les was known as a loud and rather opinionated individual, he strongly believed in giving back to the central-Missouri communities he called home for almost 90 years. If he could help, he would help.
Starting in the late 1960’s, Les provided the machinery, know-how, and the wonderful dirt from the bottoms of New Franklin to build a new baseball field at the site of the current Hallsville (Missouri) Intermediate School.
He went on to get a new Press Box built at the Hallsville (Missouri) High School Football stadium in 2006 and followed that up by donating a John Deere Gator to the school for its use. Les was also a long-time supporter of the Hallsville Optimist Club, and a regular at local breakfast eateries.
Through W&L Steel Erectors, Les and Wanda have been major sponsors of the local St. Jude Golf Classic for more than 15 years.
An avid reader of classic westerns and dedicated farmers market shopper, Les was most often found with his trusty four-legged sidekick, Monk the dog. Les also grew to love watching game shows and spent many hours most weeks cheering on his favorite sports teams from the warmth and safety of his recliner. He enjoyed being surrounded by all of his grand and great-grandkids, making them realize that his bark was most often worse than his bite.
Les is survived by his wife, Wanda; sons, Mike Hardin (Debbie), Danny Hardin (Karen), and Billy Hardin (Cheryl); step-daughter, Kelli Offutt Farm (Jim); step-son, Jeff Offutt (Cheryl); grandkids, Brandon Hardin (Rachel), Cody Hardin (Lacy), Jennifer Hardin, Lenze Hardin Shannon (William), Jake Hardin (Jaimie), Lori Hardin, Keegan Offutt, Pierce Offutt, Sophie Offutt, Andrew Fram, and Wilson Fram; and 14 great-grandchildren, as well as one sister, Louise Lawson (Doug), and brother, Donald Hardin, all of central Missouri, and his twin, Wesley Hardin (Sandy) of Bossier City, Louisiana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings, Edward Hardin, James “JR” Hardin, Dewey Hardin, Jr, Marion Eugene “Gene” Hardin, William Francis Hardin, and Helen Virginia Hardin Kircher, and two grandchildren, Melissa A Hardin and Jeremiah Michael Hardin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Central Missouri Honor Flight in care of Memorial Funeral Home.
At this time, we are limiting the occupancy of our building to 50 people due to COVID-19 restrictions. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in our efforts to keep our families and staff safe. Please be prepared to be directed by staff when you arrive for visitations and services.
