Fred Whitten Hardaway

Fred Whitten Hardaway April 14, 1939 - August 25, 2025 Fred Hardaway, aged 86, of Richardson, TX passed away at home on August 25, 2025. He was born on April 14, 1939 in Memphis, TN, and raised along with two brothers by parents Oscar Oakley and Pauline Stuart Hardaway in Blytheville, AR. A technological visionary, Fred was among the brilliant young minds challenged by President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s to put an American on the moon and return him safely to Earth within the decade. At the Collins Radio facility in Richardson, Fred designed and built the tracking system for the Apollo space program, traveling to Alaska and Australia for installations. At the same time, Fred attended the University of Texas at Arlington receiving his BS in Electrical Engineering followed by his MS in the same field at Southern Methodist University. In addition to space program contributions, he also designed and developed the first digital gas pumps, and a technology that preceded the computer mouse we use today. Fred’s brilliance touched us all in ways we know and in ways many will never know. Throughout his engineering career NASA remained a customer of Fred’s companies: Control and Information Systems, Testronics, Inc., and SemiTek International. Beyond Fred’s keen intellect, his genuine kindness and clever humor will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. He truly enjoyed his time with his family. He delighted in challenging the young ones with brainteasers in basic physics, geometry and algebra. He always looked forward to his banter with friends at church on Sundays and the bar on Thursdays. Fred and his paradigm shifting perspectives of life were ahead of their time, and our world is blessed to have had him as long as we did. Fred is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane Fortson Hardaway, children Whit Hardaway (Fred, Jr.) of Gainesville, TX, Mary Hardaway Czuk of Federal Way, WA, Dixie Jane Hardaway of Naples, FL, Miles Lee Hardaway of Frisco, TX, brother Hugh Tucker Hardaway of Plano, TX, and a blessed plethora of grandchildren, great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, two sisters-in-law, and multiple nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Oscar Oakley Hardaway, Jr, and children Elizabeth Kathryn Hardaway (Beth), Holly Marie Hardaway Hansen, and Brett Fortson Hardaway. A service honoring Fred’s life will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75205 where he attended regularly for 50 years. The service will be at 1pm Monday, September 15, 2025 in Cox Chapel where he married Jane in 1972. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.