- Date Of Birth: July 22, 1926
- Date Of Death: October 30, 2009
- State: Illinois
Walter Sam Hardwick Sr., 83, of Virginia, IL died Friday evening, October 30, 2009 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
He was born July 22, 1926 in Poplar Bluff, MO; the son of Walter Sam Hardwick and Louise Knott Hardwick (Lord). He married Barbara J. Gray on November 16, 1947 in Beardstown, IL and she survives.
He is also survived by four children, Sally Hardwick Adams (husband, Don) of Springfield, Sam Hardwick Jr. (wife, Jan) of rural Ashland, Amy Hardwick of Virginia, and Molly Hardwick of Jacksonville; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Sunseri (husband, John) of Portland, OR, Valerie Hardwick of Springfield, Morgan Hardwick of Virginia, Rachel Rossi of Springfield, Alexandra Rossi of Jacksonville, Rebecca Hardwick of Ashland, and Olivia Rossi of Jacksonville; a niece; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Louise Stufflebeam; and a niece.
Mr. Hardwick was a graduate of Beardstown High School and attended the University of Illinois at Champaign. Following his service with the US Army Air Corps during WW II, he returned to Cass County to build a successful farming operation in the Philadelphia township area. He appreciated nature, enjoyed working outdoors and was devoted to protecting the land through conservation practices. An active arborist, he planted hundreds of walnut trees on his farms for the benefit of others. He was a co-founder of the Cass County Rural Water District. While farming, he also worked with insurance companies as a crop hail adjuster. After his farming career, he began a 20 year career working in various capacities with Cass Communications Management of Virginia. He provided marketing services especially in the area of cable TV franchise acquisitions.
Sam was a member of the Virginia United Methodist Church, Virginia Lodge #544 AF & AM, and a former member of the Virginia Kiwanis Club. An avid reader, he was rarely seen without a book determined to continue his lifelong passion for learning. His hobby led him to serve several years as president of the Virginia Memorial Public Library board. His quest for learning also led him to travel the world extensively all the while relating the foreign visits with his interest in history. It was equally important that he share this love of history and travel with Barbara, his wife of 62 years, his children, and his grandchildren. He valued time spent with his family and they will greatly miss him.
