Mr. Stephen Baxter Hardin

STEPHEN BAXTER HARDIN, 79, entered into the arms of Jesus on Friday, February 9, 2024.

VISITATION: Sunday, February 18 from 4-7 p.m. at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 West Pioneer Parkway, Arlington.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Monday, February 19 at 10 a.m. at Tate Springs Baptist Church, 4201 Little Road, Arlington. Graveside at Auburn Cemetery, 302 Auburn Road Grandview, TX 76050.

STEVE was born on November 20, 1944 in San Francisco, CA to George Baxter Hardin and Harriett Evelyn Biver. He spent the majority of his childhood in Frederick, OK. He graduated from Chattanooga High School in Oklahoma in 1964. After high school he moved to Arlington, TX. He worked at General Motors and pursued his engineering degree at the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1967 he married the love of his life, Janice Laird and they spent 56 and1/2 wonderful years together. They were blessed with 5 daughters: Lisa Beth, Holly Laine, Stephanie Andrea, Erin India, and Meridith Lynne.

AFTER graduating from UTA in 1972 with a Bachelor’s of Science and the distinguished honor of a certification of Professional Engineering, he went on to work for several large corporations. He retired after 21 years of service at Vought Aircraft. Subsequent to that, he went on to work several long-standing contracts at several companies including Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter. He finished his career at Excelis in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2015.

STEVE spent many decades as an active member of Tate Springs Baptist Church. He served as a deacon, he was a choir member, and also served as choir president for several years. He was a Sunday school teacher for many years and helped with VBS. He was active in many ministries at the church such as serving with Families in Crisis, prison outreach, and he and his good friend Don Taylor did hospital visitation ministry. He also enjoyed participating in various musical and drama presentations over the years. He took great delight in doing the Lord’s work and spreading the gospel, as his driving passion was to see people experience the redemption and love of Jesus Christ.

STEVE was a man of many interests that he pursued with enthusiasm. He loved fishing, and went on many fishing expeditions with his grandchildren, sons in law, and friends.

He enjoyed shooting his guns and taught his daughters and grandkids how to safely practice this. He delighted in gardening and growing vegetables and herbs. He looked forward to family trips and gatherings, and never missed any opportunity to congregate with those he loved. He had a passion for music and even wrote some songs of his own. He was an avid storyteller and left his family with the wonderful gift of volumes of his stories. He also did extensive genealogy research on our family lineage, and documented this for us to keep and pass on.

ABOVE all of Steve’s many shining accomplishments he was a loving, devoted, and committed husband, father, and friend that loved the Lord with all of his heart. His faith in Christ Jesus was the foundation of the beautiful legacy that he left to his family.

STEVE was preceded in death by his precious daughter Lisa Beth. He is survived by his loving wife, Janice and his 4 daughters, Holly Wyant of Fort Worth, TX, Stephanie (John) Gorham of Fort Worth, TX, Erin Petrie of Bedford, TX and Meridith (Jarrett) White of Joshua, TX. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Stephen, India, and Darcy Wyant; Rylee (Kyle) Henry and Sadie Jones; Noah, Claudia, Ava, Stella and Levi Petrie; and Brodey, Elijah, Beckham, and Norah White. And additionally he is survived by his sweet great grandchildren, Scarlett Wyant, Everett Jones, and Kallen and Paityn Henry.