Billy Dean Hardy

Finished the race, and kept the faith: November 16, 2025 in Smithfield, NC

Life and Legacy

He was raised in Squire, West Virginia and as a child he loved to play football and baseball. All summer long you would find him swimming in his favorite swimming hole.

Early on his father was injured while working in the coal mines and at the age of 7 his father passed away. He was raised by his mother along with his 5 siblings. While he and his family were very poor, because of his praying mother and the values she instilled in them, both he and his siblings were successful in life, and all served the Lord. He had an incredible knack for telling stories, some true, some exaggerated.

In 1961 he met the love of his life Joann and 10 months later they were married. Shortly thereafter they moved the California to start their new life together. In July of 1963 the Lord gave them their first child Carolyn.

In the days following their move to California, Billy’s mother Bessie invited them to join her at the United Pentecostal Church of Bellflower. Before the birth of their first daughter, he his Joann, and his mother were all baptized in the name of Jesus, and all were filled with the Holy Ghost.

He faithfully served the Lord with a kind and gentle spirit until his passing last week.

He graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia. He worked as a truck driver for the coal mines before moving to California. In California while serving in the marines he got his barbers license in Long Beach and cut many a marine's hair. He worked on the Apollo 8 project, the first Lunar (moon) landing and finished his career as the head of maintenance at the post office in Whittier, California. After retirement he and his wife moved to North Carolina and lived out the rest of his life with his family there.

Preceded in death by his parents, Dewey Thomas Hardy and Bessie Clara Hardy along with his siblings Dewey Hardy (Junior), Charlotte Sefcik, Doris Asbury, Rudolph Hardy and his grandson Austin Dean Hardy.

Survived by: his loving wife of 64 years Joann Hardy, and his sister Margeret Kefalas(Dennis) his children Carloyn Dewyke(Johnnie), Mary Ogden(Eric), John Hardy(Brenda), his grandchildren; Ethan(Torrie), Garrett, Grant, Drew, Summer, Abigail, Tyler, Savannah (Doug), Makalya, Tearisty, and his great-grandchildren; Kingslynn, Waylan, Beau, and Silas.

Celebration of Life Service

A Homegoing Celebration will be held on November 20, 2025 at The Pentecostals 2317 NC Hwy 42 in Willow Spring, NC 27592 at 2:00PM. The viewing will take place starting at 1:00PM. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Clayton, NC.