Gene Leslie Hardin passed away on November 18, 2023. He was born on September 29, 1951 in Hohenwald, Tennessee. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruby Smith Hardin and Leslie Brown Hardin.
Gene graduated from Perry County High School in 1969. He graduated from Tennessee Tech and got a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. Gene married Laura Whitson of Nashville in 1980, to whom he was married for 43 years. He welcomed his children into the world in 1982, Jennifer, and 1988, Christopher.
Gene had an illustrious 48 year engineering career in Huntsville. He started in 1975 working for Teledyne Brown Engineering, then worked for Coleman Research/SY Coleman, Global Security and Engineering Solutions (GSES), and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Throughout his career, he supported the Department of Defense and NASA systems and software applications where he performed multiple roles, to include: systems engineering, software development, test requirements development and data analysis for Ballistic Missile Defense Testing, and program management. Gene spent the last 13 years of his career working for MDA where he performed and led data analysis of high profile missile defense test events. Gene was a talented engineer, a great co-worker and mentor, and a highly respected and caring person.
Gene loved music and working out in nature. His free time after work was often spent listening to music or playing his guitar while watching sports or westerns. On the weekends he would spend long hours out in the yard or up and down the street offering to help his many friends in the neighborhood with their yard work. He loved to talk to whoever would listen and would always make sure to find out what was going on in the lives of those he cared about.
Gene is survived by his wife Laura Hardin; children, Jennifer Shannon (Michael) and Christopher Hardin; grandson, Jack Shannon; sisters, Linda Trull and Sandra Kay Pate (Dallas); brother, Jimmy Hardin (Deborah); and several nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 22 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805.
Remembrances may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
