William Hardwick's Obituary
William Bruce “Billy” Hardwick, 72, passed away on Saturday November 16th, 2013. He was preparing to return from Sarasota, Florida to Memphis with his wife Rebecca by his side when he suffered a heart attack.Billy is survived by his wife, Rebecca and two sons Eddie Hardwick (Belinda) of Knoxville, Chris Hardwick of California and two daughters, Kelly Frasure (Aaron) and Jamie Howell (Richard) of Memphis, and eight grandchildren, his mother Mary Hardwick, brother Michael Hardwick, and his sisters Liz Lange and Nancy Appelblom, all from the California area. He was preceded in death by infant sons William Bruce Hardwick and Joseph Ryan Hardwick, and father Hubert Hardwick.Billy was a professional bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He joined the PBA tour in 1961 and amassed a total of 18 PBA titles during his career. He was the first player to capture the PBA career “Triple Crown” which is achieved by winning the three primary PBA major tournaments: U.S. Open, PBA National Championship, and Tournament of Champions. He was named PBA Player of the Year in 1963 and 1969, and inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1977. Billy was ranked #12 on the PBA’s 2008 list of “50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years.”Outside of his professional career, Billy’s greatest accomplishment was owner and operator of Billy Hardwick’s All Star Lanes, serving Memphis, TN and the surrounding counties for over 30 years. A staple in the community, All Star Lanes will continue to provide family fun and entertainment for many years to come. Most importantly, it’s where he met his wife Rebecca. After years of sacrifice and hardship, with Rebecca by his side, he was finally able to enjoy the life he so deserved, the family he loved, the grandchildren he cherished.The family will receive friends and relatives at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN, on Thursday Nov. 21 from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel on Friday, Nov. 22 at 11am.In lieu of flowers, a Billy Hardwick Memorial Scholarship Fund is being setup in his honor. Contributions can be sent to the MAUSBC, 2756 Mt. Moriah Pkwy. , Memphis, TN 38115. Please identify your donation to ‘In Memory of Billy Hardwick’.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.Location: Woodridge Extended Arrow Color: White
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?