Obituary of Henry Hardin

Henry "Joe" Hardin June 22, 1917 - February 04, 2007 Henry "Joe" Joseph Hardin, age 89, of Brookfield died at home on Sunday, February 4, 2007. He was the devoted husband of Anne (Stiles) Hardin. Joe was born in Boone, NC, on June 22, 1917, a son of the late Henry J. and Grace (Blackburn) Hardin. He was raised on the family farm but soon learned that flying was his first love. At age 24 he trained as a pilot through the Roosevelt administration's Civilian Pilot Program. He became and ensign in the US Naval Reserve where he was commissioned as a pilot to the China National Aviation Corp., which was a subsidiary of Pan-American Airlines. During WWII, he flew cargo from India to China over the dangerous Assam-China air route. Fifty years after the war, the United States government recognized Mr. Hardin's service to his country by presenting him with the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the Honorable Service Award and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. After the war, Joe returned to Boone and purchased a dairy farm. After a few years, Joe finally realized that flying was his passion so in 1957 he and his wife, Anne, moved their children to Brookfield. Mr. Hardin began a 25 year career with Union Carbide Corp. in White Plains serving as chief pilot and then as aviation department manager. A dedicated volunteer, Mr. Hardin served on the Republican Town Committee and was a member of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Dept. where he served as line captain. He was an active member of the Congregational Church of Brookfield where he served as Moderator, a Deacon and was chairman of the Board of Deacons. In addition to Anne, his wife of 69 years, he is survived by 3 daughters: JoAnne Gauss and her husband, Rev. Ronald Gauss of Gales Ferry, CT, Leslie Bojarski and her husband Victor of Ennice, NC, and Betsy Perry of Naugatuck, CT; Eleven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son: Henry Richard Hardin and a granddaughter, Cynthia Stratton. Funeral Information The Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 5:00 PM at the Congregational Church of Brookfield. Burial will take place on Monday, February 12 at 1:30 PM in Mountain View Cemetery, New Fairfield. The Brookfield Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Donations Information Donations in Mr. Hardin's memory may be made to: the Book of Remembrance of the Congregational Church of Brookfield, 160 Whisconier Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804; or to the Alvah Miller Fund c/o the Congregational Church of Brookfield; or to the Hanahoe Memorial Children's Clinic, 205 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810