Warren Jones Hardy
Warren Jones Hardy entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior and was reunited with his beloved Shirley on November 28, 2024.
Warren was born on July 15, 1929, in Chattanooga to J. Homer and Beth Crowley Hardy. He grew up in North Chattanooga, attended Normal Park Elementary and North Chattanooga Junior High. He was involved in Scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Chattanooga City High School and went on to study mechanical engineering at Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Upon graduation he returned to Chattanooga and worked at American Lava Corporation where he met his soon to be bride, Shirley Kennedy. They dated while Shirley finished her studies at Carson Newman and, upon her graduation, married June 2, 1956. They built their custom home in North Chattanooga themselves.
Warren left American Lava to assume ownership of Chattanooga Belting, an industrial supplier. To support the extensive travel needs associated with clientele located all over the eastern half of the country, he and Shirley obtained their private pilot's licenses. Warren was named Jaycees Young Man of the Year in 1964 and was named chairman of the Industrial Development Committee.
He sold Chattanooga Belting and, in 1968, became a licensed professional engineer, licensed in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. He went to work at Derthick and Henley Architects where he was made a partner and was responsible for the mechanical design of many prominent buildings in and around Chattanooga including the Chattanooga Public Library, The Hunter Museum, Memorial Hospital, several buildings on the UTC campus, the TVA Chattanooga Office Complex, and Finley Stadium and the Vanderbilt University Library in Nashville. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Chattanooga Engineer’s Club in 1987.
Upon retirement, he and Shirley traveled extensively, visiting Hawaii and Alaska to complete visiting all 50 states, Australia and New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, and an especially memorable trip with members of First Presbyterian Church to Turkey and Greece to visit the sites of the seven churches mentioned in the second chapter of the book of Revelation. His first love, however, was traveling with Shirley and spending time in their Airstream trailer, especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mount Pisgah.
Warren was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, where he was an elder, Chattanooga Rotary Club, Chattanooga Engineer’s Club, American Society of Mechanical, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Heating Refrigerations and Air Conditioning Engineers, and the Southern Industrial Distributors Association. He enjoyed many pastimes and pursuits including traveling, hiking and camping, photography, woodworking, boating, and fishing.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents, J. Homer and Beth Crowley Hardy, sister Mary Zelia King, nephew Douglas King, and his wife of 66 years, Shirley Kennedy Hardy.
He is survived by his daughters Jan Hardy Fanslow (Robert) and Kay Baker (David), grandchildren Caroline Helton(Nick), David Hardy Baker (Ella), and great grandson Walker Gates Baker.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Lantern at Morning Point, Hixson and special friend Sarah Lundy.
Private graveside services will be held at Forest Hill Cemtery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga World Missions fund in Warren’s memory.
Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home Ashland Terrace, www.Lanefh.com, 423 877-3524.