Robert E Hardaway III

Robert Early Hardaway III was born on February 4, 1930 in Huntsville Alabama to Robert Early Hardaway Jr. and Rebecca McCoy Hardaway. He graduated from Columbus (GA) High School in 1947. He played football and basketball and was voted Best All-Around both his Junior and Senior years. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1951 with a degree in textile engineering and was President of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Bob spent his summers at the family lake home on Lake Summit, Tuxedo, North Carolina. He was an avid water skier spending many hours with friends on the lake and was one of the first in the area to jump over homemade ramps. It was at Lake Summit where he met and fell in love with Love. As Bob would tell it; he knew he had a chance with Love when he offered to take Love’s boyfriend at the time water skiing; however, the boyfriend claimed the water would make his muscles “soft”. Bob married Love Laureen Lindsey on August 26, 1951 in Ocala, Florida. He enlisted in the US Air Force and became a pilot, logging over 1,000 hours in the Korean Conflict and more than 10,000 hours flying time back in the states. After an Honorable Discharge, Robert became the Vice President of Operations for 38 Belk Lindsey Department Stores also serving as the corporate pilot. He and Love were members of Belmar Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Treasurer. Bob and Love were later members of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church were he also served as an Elder and was involved in the Steven Ministry. He was a member of the Palma Ciea Country Club spending many hours working on his handicap to no avail. He was an Eagle Scout ultimately receiving the Silver Beaver Award.

Bob is survived by his son Lindsey Hardaway and his daughter Rebecca Love Hardaway LaBarre and her husband Tony and their ten (yes ten) children; Chloe, Grace, David, Isaiah, Mary Frances, Love, Madelyn, Hannah, Sara and Chris.

The family will hold a private service to honor Roberts memory. Donations to Seasons Hospice would be greatly appreciated.