Lawrence Russell Hardy

He truly was a generous gentleman, and random acts of kindness were an important part of his life!

Larry was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on a snowy March Day. After living in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Longview, Texas, he resided in Dayton, Ohio, for seventy-three years. In 2010, he and wise wife, Barbara Ann, moved to Northern California between Auburn and Grass Valley, "Gold Country."

Larry received many honors while attending Oakwood High School and the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in Engineering, followed by a Master's degree in Business Administration. He was a proud member of the Sigma Nu social fraternity.

After summer employment at General Motors and National Cash Register in Dayton, he worked for two years at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Next, he represented several aerospace companies for fifty-one years. He assisted them in marketing, customer service, and later consulting. Major customers included the Air Force, NASA, Department of Energy, Tank Automotive Command, and major gas turbine engine companies.

Larry's interests were many, including hot air ballooning, antique classic cars and boats, golfing, fishing, farming, conservation, and many activities at the family's summer home in Michigan. He also authored the book entitled Lifetime Observations.

Larry excelled in many volunteer ways, including serving for 25 years on the Salvation Army Advisor Board. Other volunteer activities included Habitat for Humanity Restore, Goodwill Industries, Northstar Gold Mining Museum, and Board of Directors of the Dayton Blood Center. His passion for giving blood was evidenced by his 915 donations amounting to 134 gallons of blood and blood products!

Larry enjoyed and gained significantly from a lifetime attendance at Methodist and Presbyterian Churches where he participated in choirs and many committees. He also joined KAIROS and twice spent four days in Christian Ministry at the Folsom Prison in California.

Larry enjoyed helping others gain employment. Twenty-five times, he succeeded. Also, many gained from his chairing the Oakwood YMCA Board, as well as from his successful fund-raising activities for the Dayton, Ohio Blood Center and Tissue Bank.

During his lifetime, he had the pleasure of knowing the Orville Wright, and dining with Jimmy Dolittle and President Jimmy Carter.

More important than all of the above was his love for his surviving, lovely wife, Barbara Ann Hardy; and his children Stephen Lawrence Hardy, Laura Marie Hardy, Elizabeth Anne Hardy (Rick Omlor).

May Lawrence rest in peace and be forever a continuing inspiration to all the lives he touched while gently gracing this Earth.