Bertis "Chuck" Hardway Jr.'s Obituary
Bertis "Chuck" Hardway Jr., age 88, of Elyria Township, Ohio, passed away on February 11, 2026 at his home surrounded by family. Born on December 27, 1937 in Dink, West Virginia to Bertis E. Hardway and Lina "Ninny" Hardway (nee Boggs), Chuck spent his formative years in Clay County. At 16, he moved to Ohio, where he joined Midview High School's first graduating class, the Class of 1956.
On November 28, 1959, while sailing the Great Lakes as a deckhand, Chuck married Ruth Legg. After settling down in Lorain, Chuck worked at Sutton's Sohio and Sears Automotive. He was a Millwright at Ford Motor Company from 1973 until his retirement in 1997. Retirement is a term used loosely; Chuck was a jack-of-all-trades who never slowed down, often helping family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers.
In addition to being the community handyman and dedicated family man, Chuck was an avid outdoorsman, bluegrass music connoisseur, and proud member of the Buckhorn Hunting Club. He enjoyed 4-wheeling, attending bluegrass festivals, fishing, hunting, logging, and recently, caring for a flock of chickens. The amount of cracked corn he bought for them was perhaps keeping the local Tractor Supply in business.
Chuck, lovingly called "Papaw", is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth L. Hardway (nee Legg); his children, Dawn Golba (Michael Johnson) of Lakewood, Melanie Wilson (Cliff) of Elyria Township, Jeffrey Hardway (Michelle) of Lorain, Dawn Lopez of Elyria, and Kimberley Hardway (Eddie James) of LaGrange; his grandchildren, Nicole Young (Reece) of Lorain, Jessica Sen (Jerry) of Elyria Township, Nick Lopez and Keith Lopez (Gina) of Elyria, Cody Wilson (Meredith) of Vermilion, Emily London (Jacob) of Chantilly, Virginia, Miranda Emery (Tyler) of LaGrange, and Nathan Golba of Lakewood; his great-grandchildren, Naurica Young and Jordan Young of Lorain, Josephine Sen of Elyria Township, Kai Young of Lorain, and Ada London of Chantilly, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bertis E. and Lina M. Hardway and sisters, Sharon Harper (Roger) and Patricia Legg (Frank).
Friends may call Monday, February 16, 2026 from 11a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12 Noon in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral Home, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst.
To celebrate Chuck's life and his love of chickens, the family suggests donations be made to Friendship Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 in his memory.
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