Martin Boyd Hardy, 78, of New Castle, passed away the morning of May 27, 2018 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. He was born on March 9, 1940 to Boyd and Manie (Clouse) Hardy in Madison Township, Armstrong County, PA.

He was formerly employed by Rimersburg Plumbing and Heating and McDowell Plumbing and Heating of Sligo, PA as bookkeeper and office manager. He married the former Fannie Clutter on July 10, 1963.

Martin was a Viet Nam veteran where he served in the First Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, KS as a clerk in the finance office.

A graduate of Redbank Valley High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His CPE training was at WCA Hospital in Jamestown, NY. He served as student pastor at Ringgold/Barton Chapel/Langville and Midland/Shippingport charges.

He was ordained by the United Methodist Church in June of 1977 and served as pastor of several churches which included Sugar Grove/Chandlers Valley, East Brady, and Wampum/West Pittsburg. He also for a brief time was interim chaplain at Wesbury Community, a retirement home in Meadville.

In 1993, he transferred his ministerial standing to the United Church of Christ where he served at St. Paul’s in Butler, First UCC in Warren, OH, and St. Paul’s in Meadville.

Martin was active in the communities he served. In Midland and East Brady, he organized a meals program. He was a member of the Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department and an EMT. In Warren, he became president of the Warren Area Clergy Association, a member of YWCA’s Study Circles on Racism, the Strategic Planning Committee at Harding High School, and the Red Ribbon Committee through Community Action.

He retired in 2010 and had been attending Shenango Presbyterian Church in New Castle.

His hobbies were solving crossword puzzles, watching sports, and writing poems.

Survivors are his three sons, Kevin Hardy, Kelly Hardy, and Robert Hardy; daughter-in-law, Renee; his brother, Ken Hardy of Alabama and two grandsons, Brett and Scott. Preceding him in death were his wife Fannie, his parents, and a nephew.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 3:00pm to 4:00pm at Shenango Presbyterian Church 3144 Wilmington Rd. Memorial services will be conducted Sunday at 4:00pm at the church, officiated by Pastor Amy Na. The New Castle Area Honor Guard will conduct military rites Sunday at the church.

Interment will take place in Graceland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shenango Presbyterian Church, 3144 Wilmington Rd, New Castle, PA 16105.