Obituaries

Heber Baxton Hardy Jr.

Photo of Heber Baxton Hardy Jr.
Dr. Heber Baxton Hardy Jr. (H.B.), 90, passed away peacefully at Conway Regional Hospital in Conway on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. He was born in the family home in Quitman, Ark., on April 26, 1927, to Heber Baxton Hardy and Addie Taylor Hardy. The family moved from Conway to Heber Springs in 1930, where he graduated from Heber Springs High School with the Class of 1945. The same year, his education continued at Arkansas State Teachers College where he joined the Sigma Tau Gama fraternity; he later became a faculty sponsor and benefactor of the fraternity. Upon graduation in 1948, he taught English at Wright and Heber Springs and served as principal at Heber Springs and Wynne High Schools (Ark.). He received his master's degree from the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1954, and completed his education in 1967, with a Doctorate in Education from the University of Arkansas. After the high school work years, the balance of his career was spent at Arkansas State Teachers College (University of Central Arkansas). H.B. served as Associate Professor of Education and Director of Placement (1956), Associated Director of General Studies (1966), Professor (1968) and Dean of Undergraduate Studies (1969). In 1972, he became the Dean of Graduate Studies and Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs (1975). In 1988, he served as Interim President of the University and instead of retiring, stayed on President Win Thompson's staff as Assistant to the President. H.B. was awarded Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UCA on May 12, 2001. H.B.'s parents and sister (Freda Hardy Lightle) predeceased him; two nephews, Burney Lightle (Kristin) and Steve Lightle (Kathy) and five great nephews and nieces as well as a number of cousins survive him. Visitation will be held from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Conway; a funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with burial following the service at Heber Springs City Cemetery in Heber Springs, Ark. Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Conway. Arrangements by Omstead Funeral Home in Heber Springs, www.olmstead.cc.

Published November 6, 2017

Upcoming Events