Raymond Hardy, 88 / Dec. 16, 1922 — Oct. 9, 2011

Published 10:49 pm Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Raymond Hardy, 88
Dec. 16, 1922 — Oct. 9, 2011

Raymond J. Hardy, 88, of Mobile Boulevard in Niles and a former longtime resident of Kathryn Street, died at 11:16 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles of a brief illness.
Mr. Hardy was born Dec. 16, 1922 in Logansport, Ind. to Franklin Henry and Mary Vern (Bechtol) Hardy. In 1946, he moved from Logansport to Niles. He retired in 1982 after 36 years of service at National-Standard Co. in Niles.
Raymond was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He was a member of American Legion Post 26 in Niles, Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 449, Buchanan and B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322. He enjoyed fishing in area lakes, golfing and bowling on leagues. He was an avid NASCAR and University of Notre Dame fan.
On July 2, 1948 in Mishawaka, he married the former Phyllis Jean Marlatt, who preceded him in death on Sept. 8, 1990.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by the family who raised him, Horace and Julia Bailey; a son-in-law, Karl Kaidan; and by Raymond’s siblings, Kenneth and Richard Hardy, Iona Malatt, Lloyd Bailey, Audrey Perryman, Dorothy Redlin, Jean Ochenbaugh and Ruth Brockway.
Mr. Hardy is survived by his children, Trudy Kaidan of Niles, Steven Hardy of St. Joseph, Kerry (Heidi) Hardy of Niles and Rodney (Joanie) Hardy of Niles; grandchildren, Chrissy (and Mike) Timm, Danielle Kaidan, Stacie (Dave) Kwak, Stephanie Hardy, Joshua (Tara) Hardy, Timothy Hardy and Alex Hardy; great-grandchildren, Travis, Brooke, Abby, Aiden, Addison and Drew; a brother, Robert Hardy of Logansport; a sister, Gladys Umbaugh of Plymouth, Ind.; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Raymond J. Hardy will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Dan Miller of First Missionary Church in Niles officiating.
Committal services will follow at the graveside at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post 51, Buchanan.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Raymond may be made to the donor’s choice.