Don L. Hardin, 93, Walton, passed away at 9:20 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2018, at his home with family. He was born March 2, 1925, in Cass County, the son of the late Samuel Leslie Hardin & Leah Monell (Johnson) Hardin. On June 18, 1944, he married Thelma Jean Ronk who preceded him in death March 7, 2017.

Don was raised on a farm with his older brother, Joe. They moved to what was known as the Logan Farm in February of 1929. Don's father met the Logan heir in the trenches of France during WWI. The Logan heir said he had no intention of farming when it became his, would Samuel want to farm it? A rent to own type of contract. Then, in October of 1929, the Great Depression hit and would last 10 years. Apparently the Logan heir had also let the farm go back to the bank. No one had money, so the bank told Samuel to work the farm as if it was his. Samuel being ill from war injuries was unable to work and was admitted to the V.A. Hospital. The boys, now 13 & 15, were running the farm. Don always said that the community bonded together to help each other make it through those years. Their neighborhood group, The Congenials, would shape Don's thoughts forever. Joe and Don graduated from Galveston High School, Don in 1944.

In 1945, the bank sold the farm, but loaned Joe & Don enough to buy out the retiring owner of the Standard Oil Service Station in Galveston. Don worked the service station and worked as a carpenter's helper for Lute Young and John Eshelman. Don learned everything he could from these self-taught master carpenters. They built several homes in the community. In 1951, Don joined the Carpenters Union, was received as a journeyman carpenter as a result of letters of recommendation from John and Lute. Don would say those letters meant more to him than anything he had ever received. As a union carpenter, Don worked on many notable projects, the five, two story barracks building at Bunker Hill AFB, which would house a thousand enlisted men, further making Bunker Hill an active Air Force Base instead of a Naval Facility. On Lake Erie at Loraine, Ohio, the new Edsel plant that never saw an Edsel car built, Ford bought the building and assembled their cars there.

In 1956, Don worked as a carpenter's foreman for the Huber-Hunt Company on the first new building to house a Chrysler Transmission Plant. In 1960, Don continued with Huber-Hunt as a foreman on the I.U. Memorial Stadium Football Field (The Rock). After the Rock, Don was offered a job in Kansas City to be the Superintendent on the new Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Football Stadium. Huber-Hunt would bare all expenses moving Don and his family to Kansas. Don sought out advice from the most respected man in Galveston, Doc. Tony Dutchess. Doc had delivered Don's children and had become a family friend. It is said Doc answered Don's question with a question. "Is what you are going to gain out there worth losing what you have here and now?" So for Don, family, friends, hunting dogs, and hunting buddies' trumped-money and prestige.

In 1961, Don went to work for Construction Associates INC, out of Logansport as a job superintendent. Associates had 4 superintendents similar to Don and grew to one of the largest general contractors in Indiana. In 1975, Don worked for Fanning and Howey Architectural Firm as a field inspector for their projects in Indiana and Ohio. Don partnered with Fanning and Howey to start ProMaCon, a construction management firm. In 1980, Don started his own construction management firm, Don L. Hardin INC, he managed the construction and remodeling of many schools across the state up until his retirement. P.S. the Arrowhead project was delayed at the last minute, due to government bickering over funds, construction did not start until 1968. Don gave the creator, as he called him, the credit for watching out for him.

Don was also a Galveston Volunteer Fireman and became the youngest Fire Chief at that time, an honor because of respect earned from the old members. He was a member of Upper Deer Creek Church, former Elks member, and one of the founders of the Galveston Fox Hunters Club. He greatly enjoyed his Euchre Club Group "The Dirty Dozen" and most recently had his memoirs published. Some of Don's fondest memories are from working on several local church buildings, additions, and the people he was blessed to meet and work with on the projects.

Don is survived by his children, Suzie (Phil) Loos, and Les (Carol) Hardin; grandchildren, Lisa (Zach) Adams, Lori (Roger) Wescott, Libby (Jeremy) Spencer, Aaron (Becky) Loos, Adam Loos, Matt (Melainie) Hardin, Nate (Talee) Hardin, Nick (Courtney) Hardin, Jonathan (Alaina) Bradley, Davin Bradley, Marcus Bradley, along with 21 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; son, Michael Hardin; daughter & son-in-law, Diane and Jerry Huston; and brother, Joe Hardin.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, 2018, at Galveston United Methodist Church, 515 S. Maple Street, Galveston, with Rev. John Rhodes and Pastor Richard Olsen officiating. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Don's memory to the Upper Deer Creek Church. Stout & Son Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.