Dr. R.E. Hardberger, Jr.
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Jun 12th, 2016
- Death Date: Jun 12, 2016
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Biography: Dr. R.E. Hardberger, Jr., of Little Rock, AR, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Born October 16, 1941 in Lubbock, Texas to the late, R.E. Hardberger and Mary Josephine Smylie Hardberger, R.E. enjoyed a very blessed life. He grew up in Beaver, Oklahoma graduating high school in 1959 and went on to attend the University of Oklahoma where he joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and met his wife of 50 years, Sandra Smith. He would go on to receive his medical degree from the Oklahoma School of Medicine and join the US Navy, serving his country as a LCDR Flight Surgeon assigned to the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Following his assignment in Rhode Island, he chose the University of Arkansas to do his ophthalmology residency and Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles, CA to do a fellowship in neuro ophthalmology. Following his fellowship at Jules Stein in 1976, he moved his family back to Little Rock, Arkansas where he and Sandy would raise their two boys, Derek and Todd, as well as, open his medical practice, Hardberger Eye Center where he served the Arkansas community for nearly 40 years. R.E. had a love for life experiences and different cultures which would lead him to travel to many parts of Europe, as well as, Africa. As a collector of many things, he appreciated and admired the beauty, talent and the people who brought the collections to life. An avid hunter, he enjoyed being in nature, teaching his children and grandchildren how to hunt, and spending time with family and friends making many wonderful memories. He was a very thoughtful and generous person, always surprising people with special gifts he thought they would enjoy. He loved to read the bible and was a parishioner of St. James United Methodist Church. As a physician, he took great joy in helping people restore their sight and over the years developed many special friendships with patients, coworkers and colleagues. He loved spending time with his family and showing off pictures of his grandchildren, Kate, Yale, Max, Raney and Hudson to whomever would stand still. R.E. was such a joy to so many and is greatly missed. R.E. is survived by his wife, Sandra Hardberger; their sons, Derek Hardberger and wife, Crystal and Todd Hardberger and wife, Stephanie; his sister, Kathryn Porter and husband, Dan; his brother, Joe Hardberger and wife, Mary; his sister-in-law, Cynthia Price and husband, David; his grandchildren, Kate, Yale, Max, Raney and Hudson Hardberger; nephews, Judd, Drew, Ryan, Matthew, Andy; and nieces, Allison and Katy. A celebration of R.E.?s life will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission or The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conversation.
Allan Gold
Upon his passing,his presence will be sorely missed, but more so, by his family than any others.With that in mind, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to all of his own.
God Bless the family.
Bob and Joan Franks
Bill High
Dr. Joe & Henny Collins & Staff(Heather Pierce & Ashley Sieger).
Prayers & sympathy ..
Karen Mills
May the peace and love of God surround you all.
It is a long time and also just a blink since we were in med school together. Now we are left to rejoice in lives well lived and family well loved. RE had it all.
Our condolences.