Max Edwin Hardiman, age 91 passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at his home in Bartlesville, OK.

Max was born to Luke and Iva (Brownlee) Hardiman on May 3, 1932 in Ashton, KS. He attended Arkansas City High School where he graduated in 1950 and graduated from Cowley County Junior College in 1952. In June of 1952 he was drafted into the United States Air Force where he was based in Roswell, NM. He was honorably discharged in June of 1956.

He married Shirley Catherine (Kay) Coffelt May 13, 1955 and following his discharge from the Air Force they moved to Arkansas City, KS. After obtaining his Radio Telephone Operators License in April 1957 they moved to Wichita, KS. where he helped open a avionics repair shop for Sperry Rand Flight Systems division and later retired from Sperry/ Honeywell in 1992.

He married Rowena Jean (Griffith) Hardiman on September 22, 1978 until her passing. He was an avid aircraft enthusiast and he obtained his solo pilots license May 1970 and he went on to obtaining a commercial pilots license. He and his brother in-law Cleo Greenhaw built a 3/4 scale P-5151 aircraft named Brer’ Fox. He was a member of the Ponca City Flying Club for a few years and a American Legion member.

Max was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sister Betty Greenhaw; daughter Toni Lynn Hardiman and granddaughter Desarae Hardiman; step-sons Lance and Miles Blankenship.

He is survived by sons Michael Hardiman and wife Connie of Bartlesville, OK.; Steve Hardiman and wife Susan of Independence, KS; stepsons Jim Blankenship and wife Judy of Clifton, CO., and Jeff Blankenship and wife Renate of Austin, CO.; Grandchildren Richard Hardiman and wife Sonny, Christopher Hardiman, Andrea Adams and husband Michael, Melanie Samson and husband Caleb, Melissa Long and husband Brian, Teri Hardiman, step grandson Patrick McElroy as well as ten great grandchildren.

Viewing will be held between 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, February 28, 2024, with the family present between 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. A graveside memorial service for Max will held at 2:30 PM, Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Tannehill Cemetery in Winfield, KS.

Paid Obituary