Noel James Hardcastle, age 92, a proud Tennessean and long time resident of Florida, died peacefully on September 23, 2022. He was born on January 7th, 1930 on Union Hill to the late Antony Lycurgus Hardcastle and Carrie (Hitt) Hardcastle in Goodlettsville,Tennessee.
Noel is survived by four children, along with many adored grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is survived by one brother. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Rucker Hardcastle, and countless other loved ones.
Noel grew up in Goodlettsville, TN in a rural farming community. One story his family loved to tell was about the day he was playing with one of his Granddad's old tools and hit his finger nail hard with a hammer. His nail turned black and he told all he could not stand the pain of milking the cows so his younger brother, Tony had to learn to milk. He enjoyed not getting up so early in the morning and milking cows so much that when the fingernail started clearing up, he regularly blackened it with a pencil to avoid being assigned the milk detail. Eventually his grandmother became suspicious that his nail was taking so long to heal.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War and he was starving in basic training. So he learned a trick. As he went down the chow line, he'd check out which food he liked and would ask the servers, "what state are you from?" And he'd reply, "so am I!" He said the server would give him a much larger portion. Dad could be as wily as a fox. He went to radar school and spent the war crossing the Pacific as a radar man. Urged on by a Navy buddy, he took a correspondence course in electronics to counteract the boredom of painting the ship. Through the course, he learned he was really good in mathematics and enjoyed electronics.
After serving in the Korean War, where Dad said he knew he could do more than farm, so he went to the University of Tennessee on the GI bill and earned an electrical engineering degree. In 1957 he went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Early in his career, he was involved in the initial development of the RL10 rocket engine still to be used for the upcoming Artemis moon missions. Later he was involved with lasers and the super secret SR-71 Blackbird interceptor/spy plane, the fastest jet aircraft in the world…a far cry from milking cows on a Tennessee farm!
Noel loved children and babies and did many things with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One year during a summer vacation at Fontana Village, he went hiking up Shuckstack Mountain, a seven mile hike described on the internet as "a challenging but beautiful" hike. When we finally got back down, a ranger met us and expressed his disbelief that Dad had made it to the top and back with two little kids, one being about four years old and the other was probably eight. Dad believed in making his children tough.
He taught all his children and a some of his grandchildren, how to play chess because he believed it strengthened the mind and he enjoyed playing against us. He was a life long Methodist and instilled the love of the Lord in his children. Growing up, Dad made sure all four of us were ready for church on Sunday morning. He loved gospel music and hymns and from his teens to his old age, he sang in the church along with his brother.
After retirement Dad and Mom traveled the US and beyond. They were RV'ers and loved to hit the road from the Alaskan Highway to Quebec City. They traveled overseas and Dad's last international trip was in his eighties to see his granddaughter living in Spain.
One Father's Day, Dad received the following from one of his children and it is an apt description of his life: "Blessed is the man to whom his work is a pleasure, by whom his friends are encouraged, and with whom a clear conscious abides, and through whom his children see God," written by William Arthur Ward.
The family would like to thank the personnel and staff of Killearn Lakes Villas for their dedicated care of our father in his final years. Dad was happy, content and very well cared for there.
He lived a full life enjoying his family and friends and now we wish him Godspeed as he continues his journey to his heavenly reward.
A memorial service will be held at Pisgah United Methodist Church (7000 Pisgah Church Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32309) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 11:00 am, followed by a Burial Ceremony in the Pisgah Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly ask you to consider donations to Big Bend Hospice.
Noel is survived by four children, along with many adored grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is survived by one brother. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Rucker Hardcastle, and countless other loved ones.
Noel grew up in Goodlettsville, TN in a rural farming community. One story his family loved to tell was about the day he was playing with one of his Granddad's old tools and hit his finger nail hard with a hammer. His nail turned black and he told all he could not stand the pain of milking the cows so his younger brother, Tony had to learn to milk. He enjoyed not getting up so early in the morning and milking cows so much that when the fingernail started clearing up, he regularly blackened it with a pencil to avoid being assigned the milk detail. Eventually his grandmother became suspicious that his nail was taking so long to heal.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War and he was starving in basic training. So he learned a trick. As he went down the chow line, he'd check out which food he liked and would ask the servers, "what state are you from?" And he'd reply, "so am I!" He said the server would give him a much larger portion. Dad could be as wily as a fox. He went to radar school and spent the war crossing the Pacific as a radar man. Urged on by a Navy buddy, he took a correspondence course in electronics to counteract the boredom of painting the ship. Through the course, he learned he was really good in mathematics and enjoyed electronics.
After serving in the Korean War, where Dad said he knew he could do more than farm, so he went to the University of Tennessee on the GI bill and earned an electrical engineering degree. In 1957 he went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Early in his career, he was involved in the initial development of the RL10 rocket engine still to be used for the upcoming Artemis moon missions. Later he was involved with lasers and the super secret SR-71 Blackbird interceptor/spy plane, the fastest jet aircraft in the world…a far cry from milking cows on a Tennessee farm!
Noel loved children and babies and did many things with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One year during a summer vacation at Fontana Village, he went hiking up Shuckstack Mountain, a seven mile hike described on the internet as "a challenging but beautiful" hike. When we finally got back down, a ranger met us and expressed his disbelief that Dad had made it to the top and back with two little kids, one being about four years old and the other was probably eight. Dad believed in making his children tough.
He taught all his children and a some of his grandchildren, how to play chess because he believed it strengthened the mind and he enjoyed playing against us. He was a life long Methodist and instilled the love of the Lord in his children. Growing up, Dad made sure all four of us were ready for church on Sunday morning. He loved gospel music and hymns and from his teens to his old age, he sang in the church along with his brother.
After retirement Dad and Mom traveled the US and beyond. They were RV'ers and loved to hit the road from the Alaskan Highway to Quebec City. They traveled overseas and Dad's last international trip was in his eighties to see his granddaughter living in Spain.
One Father's Day, Dad received the following from one of his children and it is an apt description of his life: "Blessed is the man to whom his work is a pleasure, by whom his friends are encouraged, and with whom a clear conscious abides, and through whom his children see God," written by William Arthur Ward.
The family would like to thank the personnel and staff of Killearn Lakes Villas for their dedicated care of our father in his final years. Dad was happy, content and very well cared for there.
He lived a full life enjoying his family and friends and now we wish him Godspeed as he continues his journey to his heavenly reward.
A memorial service will be held at Pisgah United Methodist Church (7000 Pisgah Church Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32309) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 11:00 am, followed by a Burial Ceremony in the Pisgah Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly ask you to consider donations to Big Bend Hospice.
Noel James Hardcastle, age 92, a proud Tennessean and long time resident of Florida, died peacefully on September 23, 2022. He was born on January 7th, 1930 on Union Hill to the late Antony Lycurgus Hardcastle and Carrie (Hitt) Hardcastle in Goodlettsville,Tennessee.
Noel is survived by four children, along with many adored grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is survived by one brother. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Rucker Hardcastle, and countless other loved ones.
Noel grew up in Goodlettsville, TN in a rural farming community. One story his family loved to tell was about the day he was playing with one of his Granddad's old tools and hit his finger nail hard with a hammer. His nail turned black and he told all he could not stand the pain of milking the cows so his younger brother, Tony had to learn to milk. He enjoyed not getting up so early in the morning and milking cows so much that when the fingernail started clearing up, he regularly blackened it with a pencil to avoid being assigned the milk detail. Eventually his grandmother became suspicious that his nail was taking so long to heal.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War and he was starving in basic training. So he learned a trick. As he went down the chow line, he'd check out which food he liked and would ask the servers, "what state are you from?" And he'd reply, "so am I!" He said the server would give him a much larger portion. Dad could be as wily as a fox. He went to radar school and spent the war crossing the Pacific as a radar man. Urged on by a Navy buddy, he took a correspondence course in electronics to counteract the boredom of painting the ship. Through the course, he learned he was really good in mathematics and enjoyed electronics.
After serving in the Korean War, where Dad said he knew he could do more than farm, so he went to the University of Tennessee on the GI bill and earned an electrical engineering degree. In 1957 he went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Early in his career, he was involved in the initial development of the RL10 rocket engine still to be used for the upcoming Artemis moon missions. Later he was involved with lasers and the super secret SR-71 Blackbird interceptor/spy plane, the fastest jet aircraft in the world…a far cry from milking cows on a Tennessee farm!
Noel loved children and babies and did many things with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One year during a summer vacation at Fontana Village, he went hiking up Shuckstack Mountain, a seven mile hike described on the internet as "a challenging but beautiful" hike. When we finally got back down, a ranger met us and expressed his disbelief that Dad had made it to the top and back with two little kids, one being about four years old and the other was probably eight. Dad believed in making his children tough.
He taught all his children and a some of his grandchildren, how to play chess because he believed it strengthened the mind and he enjoyed playing against us. He was a life long Methodist and instilled the love of the Lord in his children. Growing up, Dad made sure all four of us were ready for church on Sunday morning. He loved gospel music and hymns and from his teens to his old age, he sang in the church along with his brother.
After retirement Dad and Mom traveled the US and beyond. They were RV'ers and loved to hit the road from the Alaskan Highway to Quebec City. They traveled overseas and Dad's last international trip was in his eighties to see his granddaughter living in Spain.
One Father's Day, Dad received the following from one of his children and it is an apt description of his life: "Blessed is the man to whom his work is a pleasure, by whom his friends are encouraged, and with whom a clear conscious abides, and through whom his children see God," written by William Arthur Ward.
The family would like to thank the personnel and staff of Killearn Lakes Villas for their dedicated care of our father in his final years. Dad was happy, content and very well cared for there.
He lived a full life enjoying his family and friends and now we wish him Godspeed as he continues his journey to his heavenly reward.
A memorial service will be held at Pisgah United Methodist Church (7000 Pisgah Church Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32309) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 11:00 am, followed by a Burial Ceremony in the Pisgah Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly ask you to consider donations to Big Bend Hospice.
Noel is survived by four children, along with many adored grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is survived by one brother. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Rucker Hardcastle, and countless other loved ones.
Noel grew up in Goodlettsville, TN in a rural farming community. One story his family loved to tell was about the day he was playing with one of his Granddad's old tools and hit his finger nail hard with a hammer. His nail turned black and he told all he could not stand the pain of milking the cows so his younger brother, Tony had to learn to milk. He enjoyed not getting up so early in the morning and milking cows so much that when the fingernail started clearing up, he regularly blackened it with a pencil to avoid being assigned the milk detail. Eventually his grandmother became suspicious that his nail was taking so long to heal.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War and he was starving in basic training. So he learned a trick. As he went down the chow line, he'd check out which food he liked and would ask the servers, "what state are you from?" And he'd reply, "so am I!" He said the server would give him a much larger portion. Dad could be as wily as a fox. He went to radar school and spent the war crossing the Pacific as a radar man. Urged on by a Navy buddy, he took a correspondence course in electronics to counteract the boredom of painting the ship. Through the course, he learned he was really good in mathematics and enjoyed electronics.
After serving in the Korean War, where Dad said he knew he could do more than farm, so he went to the University of Tennessee on the GI bill and earned an electrical engineering degree. In 1957 he went to work for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Early in his career, he was involved in the initial development of the RL10 rocket engine still to be used for the upcoming Artemis moon missions. Later he was involved with lasers and the super secret SR-71 Blackbird interceptor/spy plane, the fastest jet aircraft in the world…a far cry from milking cows on a Tennessee farm!
Noel loved children and babies and did many things with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One year during a summer vacation at Fontana Village, he went hiking up Shuckstack Mountain, a seven mile hike described on the internet as "a challenging but beautiful" hike. When we finally got back down, a ranger met us and expressed his disbelief that Dad had made it to the top and back with two little kids, one being about four years old and the other was probably eight. Dad believed in making his children tough.
He taught all his children and a some of his grandchildren, how to play chess because he believed it strengthened the mind and he enjoyed playing against us. He was a life long Methodist and instilled the love of the Lord in his children. Growing up, Dad made sure all four of us were ready for church on Sunday morning. He loved gospel music and hymns and from his teens to his old age, he sang in the church along with his brother.
After retirement Dad and Mom traveled the US and beyond. They were RV'ers and loved to hit the road from the Alaskan Highway to Quebec City. They traveled overseas and Dad's last international trip was in his eighties to see his granddaughter living in Spain.
One Father's Day, Dad received the following from one of his children and it is an apt description of his life: "Blessed is the man to whom his work is a pleasure, by whom his friends are encouraged, and with whom a clear conscious abides, and through whom his children see God," written by William Arthur Ward.
The family would like to thank the personnel and staff of Killearn Lakes Villas for their dedicated care of our father in his final years. Dad was happy, content and very well cared for there.
He lived a full life enjoying his family and friends and now we wish him Godspeed as he continues his journey to his heavenly reward.
A memorial service will be held at Pisgah United Methodist Church (7000 Pisgah Church Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32309) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 11:00 am, followed by a Burial Ceremony in the Pisgah Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly ask you to consider donations to Big Bend Hospice.
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