The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office The Passing Lane - Stovebolt Memorials Charlie "Cletis" Hardin :: 10/1/47 - 7/15/17

Our friend, Charlie "Cletis" Hardin, has passed away. Saturday.

Charles Vernon Hardin

He was a good friend to us all.


Edit by Peggy M: Many of the replies herein comment about meeting Cletis at the Reunions. HERE IS the link to the Stovebolt Annual Reunion in Kansas City (starting in 2005). You'll see lots and lots of stories and pictures that include Charlie. Besides taking pictures for Stovebolt, he also did a few stories to go with the events.

Another cool thing Charlie started was a thread called "Stovebolt Driving Report." Started in March 2012, and it had a long string of posts covering over 12 years. Honestly, there are so many bits and pieces of Charlie throughout the site, it's hard not to bump into him on a regular basis.

The Stovebolt Collect salutes you.

A good member and friend, RIP my friend

Charley and Tony were the first members that I met.

Just got word Charlie "Cletis" Hardin, our good buddy and Moderator here on the Stovebolt passed over the weekend. Cletis will always be fixed in my mind as one of the best "ol' Truck Guys." Always willing to share his knowledge and offer encouraging words to others on their projects.

He will truly be missed in the old truck community and the universe at large.

The second picture here is part of his legacy, a picture of Xander (my son) sitting in his truck when we were at his place in TX. His willingness to help and shepherd the younger "truckers" of the world means he will live on through them for generations to come.

Keep on Trucking buddy!!


Be sure to watch the video here if you have a second, lot's of great pics.

Been remembering Charlie all day since I read the news this morning.

Godspeed, Charlie.

I had no clue that he was sick. I really don't know what to say. I didn't know him well, only through the site and one time in person at a reunion. He will be missed.

I was wondering where he's been. Its a sad day and I'm sorry to hear it.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Condolences to his family, RIP Charlie.

please pass along my sympathy to his family. This is a good reminder to live today like it could be your last, call that friend, visit someone, invite someone over for dinner and make it happen!

Wow, I did not know him but had a few conversations on this Stovebolt forum with him.
Nothing but pleasurable talk.

cletis Extreme Gabster 11,334 Post
May God Rest your soul cletis

Charlie (Cletis) had been battling throat cancer for quite some time. It had been in remission for a couple of years but returned around Thanksgiving last year. Charlie chose not to do anymore Chemo. He was given 6 months. Always the fighter he proved the Drs wrong by a couple of months. Charlie did not want his situation to take away from the exchange of information on Stovebolt.com so he asked the few that knew to keep it confidential. Charlie was a wealth of information about our favorite trucks and shared willingly. Charlie was charged with moderating the General Truck Forum and did so with gusto. He diligently tried to make us all comply with the sites rules.
Please take time to say a prayer for his wife and best friend June.
RIP Cletis 🙏🏻

Very sad day! He will be greatly missed.
Prayers to the family during this tough time.
Thank you for posting Steve.

Charlie/Cletis was a good man and will be remembered fondly by those who had the luck/pleasure to meet him.

RIP, Charlie

Darn, Charlie and June are great people.
Sure hate to hear this

RIP my friend.

Don & Vicki King

Charley never spoke of it but he was also awarded a purple heart from actions in Nam,
messed up his hearing from incoming.. he also made it thru a kidney transplant
some yrs ago, put a good fight with Cancer, that is a very hard fight to win..

Had the pleasure of meeting Cletis and June a couple years in El Reno. We spent part of the time watching some races together. He was a really good guy and offered many helpful suggestions on working on my projects. He will be missed.
Thoughts and prayers his way and to June and family too.

Very sad to hear that. Very sad. I met him 3 or 4 times in Kansas City. Great guy, he will be missed. Condolences to June and the rest of the family.
Leo

Only knew Charlie (Cletis) through this forum, he impressed me as being a bit crusty but helpful and knowledgeable. Gave me some great advise. Guess we know now why he was selling off his very nice GMC trucks and parts recently.

Condolences and Prayers.

Ron R

Had the pleasure of meeting Charlie in Kansas City 2 years ago and went out for dinner with him he had a love of music as well as Chevys may he rest in peace from Karen and Tim he called June sunshine which was fi

Oh that is really sad news. My condolences to the family. I had no idea that he was ill. We will miss him and his knowledge here on the Stovebolt.

A sad day for all here and his family, prayers.

Our condolences to any and all who had the pleasure of meeting Cletis!

Scott and Sherry

I never met Cletis, just know him from this site. A nice guy for sure. RIP Cletis.

Dennis

He was one of those people that when you met him, he would never be forgotten. Truly a rare and special person.

Cletis and I had a chat a while back and he told me of his situation. Time has gone by way to fast. I met him and June many years ago in K.C. We always looked forward to seeing them in K.C. and communicated many times over the years. I considered him a friend/ RIP Charlie and blessing for June as she goes through this.

Glad i got to meet him here in kansas city .
Rest in peace Charlie !!

Tim

A minute of silence tomorrow at 11:am would be nice if you can. It only takes a minute. Had many chats with Cletis in K.C., here on the bolt and by personal mail. Prayers are in order for June and children.

Thanks for the memories to Cletis and June. Met them many times and had many chats. Yes, he told me about his battle and how he was waiting to die. He faced it like a true fighter. Cletis, your legacy lives on brother.

To the family of Cletis:

After the tears have dried and the goodbyes have been said, all we have to hold onto are the happy memories that we've shared with our loved
ones who have passed, this is what keeps them alive in our hearts and in our minds, and they will continue to live on, through us.
My condolences.
We will miss Cletis on the forum.
Harold

If I may...I'd like to add a story about Cletis, AKA Charlie. As posted earlier, he and our better halves spent some time watching some races at El Reno, part of the SmallTown Weekend Annual Event. There was a lull in the action, so we got to "a bs'n" about the early years. I asked him how come he choose the Stovebolt handle of "Cletis"?. He said words along the lines that in Nam he and his buddies decided it was best to not use their real names in radio transmissions. He got a long off look, I'd seen many times before from my Dad. He didn't elaborate and I didn't ask, as it seemed best not to. (Charlie...the word, back in Nam had a different use, so my guess is the name change for then might have been related?)
RIP Charlie!

Sorry to hear about him.

I bought a service manual from him just a while ago, and he was willing to take a personal check for it. A good guy for sure.

RIP Charlie

I recall Charlie made mention of some health issue when he was selling off a bunch of his parts vehicles, but he did not want to go into the drama of his issues. I never met Charlie but certainly do respect his efforts on this site as he obviously had a mutual love for old iron. He will be missed. Farewell Stovebolt friend.

Only "knew" Charlie through this site, but I know his passing will leave a void. Thankful for guys like him who have passed on so much knowledge. Prayers for the family.

Sorry to hear the loss of one of this forums finest ..

R.I.P Cletis

Thank you for your service to our nation

Just a suggestion ... as Charlie's family is not likely to read your condolence messages here, you might want to post them here, instead. He leaves a big family here -- let's turn out for him.

Thanks,
John

I knew Charlie from here and another site. I've never "met" another person I can speak so highly of. You'll be missed, Charlie.

I second John's suggestion. You can leave a condolence message for the family to read. It only takes a couple of minutes and I'm sure it will be cherished by Charlie's family.

His was a very familiar name for me on the site. Sorry to hear he has passed on.

Just read about his passing in another thread.
Short time here for me but learnt his name fast
for he made a lot of good posts.

We all will miss him. Jeffrey

Sorry to hear this. He was a class act.
I always liked him. Always loved to see his red 55 with the flag in the back window.
I remember some of the reunions back at the American Inn and him (and others) with a guitar.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDBBe1ubzaU

I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. Charlie was as nice and cool as he was knowledgeable. At Kansas City back in '08, I think it was, Charlie invited us to ride with him in his truck over to Jim Carter's. A true class act. I'll miss you cletis. And thank you also for the neat lighter with the Yellow Rose, I will always treasure it......