H.L. "BILL" HARDIN, 99, of Joshua, TX; soldier,
lawman, family patriarch, and devout follower of
Christ; went to his heavenly home on Feb. 17, 2023,
in Fort Worth, TX.
Bill was born in Thurber, TX on March 1, 1923, to
Luther Joseph Hardin & Mary Vila Mace Hardin. He
grew up in Ranger, TX where he attended Ranger
High School in the Class of 1943. Later he joined
the U.S. Army National Guard (a World War II
Veteran) achieving the rank of Chief Warrant
Officer 4. In 1947, while serving in the Army,
Bill joined the FW Police Department, where he
helped establish the Texas Narcotics Officers
Association. After a distinguished career with
the FW PD, Bill retired in 1988, and without
missing a day of work, immediately joined the
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office until his 2nd
retirement 1995. Bill had to take a vacation
day from the Sheriff's office to attend his
retirement party from FW PD. But retirement
was never going to be part of Bill's life, as
he then immediately joined the Johnson County
Sheriff's Office, where he worked for the last
28 years. In total, Bill served the people of
the Great State of Texas as lawman for over 76
years - the longest active serving lawman in
the world. He was also involved in the Masonic
Lodge of Joshua for 60 years, Elks Lodge and
was a lifelong Baptist.
Bill & his first wife, the late Nettie Lois "Jo"
Corder Hardin were married until Jo's death in
2008. Together, they had son, James Lawrence
Hardin and daughters Teresa Hardin Mullins and
Jennifer Hardin.
Bill is survived by his current wife, Wanda
Zollinger Hardin; daughter Jennifer Hardin,
brother Darrell Hardin, grandchildren: John
Wesley Hardin, James William Hardin, Matthew
James Bohon, Mark Richard Bohon, Christopher
Michael Bohon and Emily Teresa Gale, and many
great-grandchildren & many great-great-grand-
children.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, his
1st wife, Jo; son, James Lawrence Hardin, daughter,
Teresa Hardin Mullins, brother Bud Hardin (RHS-
1944), and sisters Wanda Hardin Rouse, and Betty
Hardin McClure.