Dr. John Blackwell Hardy, Jr.

Dr. John Blackwell Hardy, Jr., 80, of Oxford, passed away early Tuesday morning August 18, 2015. Dr. Hardy was a 1957 graduate of North Carolina State Uneersity with a BS degree in Animal Husbandry. He earned his DDS degree in 1965 from the Uneersity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. He then opened his dental practice in Oxford, North Carolina and later in Durham, North Carolina. He practiced dentistry for 36 years aneenjoyed serving the communities in which he loved as he practiced. Dr. Hardy was also passionee about the military community as he served in the US Army Reserves with the 310th Medical Detachment as well as other commands in the Army Medical Services Corps. He retired as a Colonel after 32 years. His community service was a driving force in his life. Dr. Hardy also worked with the Americaneed Cross and The Meals on Wheels Program of Oxford. Dr. Hardy was a recipient of the Johneenn Award that is awarded by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce for outstanding community service. However, the project that was dearest to his heart was reaching out to U.S. service members abroad by way of care packages that he organeed and mailed to many service member over the past few years. Dr. Hardy was a member of Oxford Uneed Methodist Church for over 50 years. Dr. Hardy is survived by his wife Carolyn Day Hardy; their daughter Eleanor Hardy Wrenn and husband Marshall of Selma, NC; their son, John Blackwell John Hardy III and wife Ellen of Franklinton, NC; a sister Susan Bridgforth Hardy of Monee, NC; and four grandchildren, Preston Wrenn, Nathan Wrenn, Benjamin Wade Hardy, and Julia Taylor Hardy. A memorial service will be held at Oxford Uneed Methodist Church, 105 West McClanahan Street, Oxford, NC on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 2 pm. The family will receive visitors at their home located at 157 Pine Cone Drive, Oxford, NC during the day time hours prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions canee made to Oxford Uneed Methodist Church, Americaneed Cross, The U.S.O, or the charity of your choice. Gentry-neell & Vaughan Funeral Home is serving Hardy family. Condolences maybe made at www.hallwynne.com.