William M. Barnhardt

December 11, 2021

William McLaughlin Barnhardt died on December 11, 2021. He had recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church with Dr. Joe Clifford and Dr. Millie Snyder officiating. The family will receive friends in Oxford Hall after the service.  The service will be livestreamed at https://myersparkpres.org/funerals

Bill made his mark in the textile business, in various civic organizations and businesses in and around Charlotte, and as a nationally recognized contributor to the YMCA. His induction into the YMCA Hall of Fame (the second such civilian induction behind John D. Rockefeller, Jr.) was very significant to him.

Bill was born on July 29, 1928, in Latrobe, PA, the oldest of William Horace and Margaret McLaughlin (Pegie) Barnhardt’s four children. Although the family lived in Charlotte, his mother returned to her former home for the birth of her first child. Three weeks later they returned to Charlotte. He visited his grandfather’s home in Latrobe each summer for the first thirteen years of his life.

Bill attended Myers Park Elementary and Alexander Graham Junior High (then located where the Dowd YMCA is today) before leaving for Woodberry Forest School in Virginia, where he was ranked second in his class. After his freshman year at Princeton University, he transferred to N. C. State University to study textiles and graduated in 1950 with a degree and a wife; he and the love of his life, former Harriet Oehler Bangle, were married on September 7, 1949, at the start of his senior year, a marriage lasting more than 72 years.

Bill began his career with E.I. du Pont Company in Wilmington, Delaware. He was with them for several years before coming back to Charlotte to join Barnhardt Elastic Corp. He spent the next 41 years working with that company and with Southern Webbing Mills, Riverview Narrow Fabrics, and Medical Textiles, leading those companies to a substantial role in the narrow fabrics industry.

Equally important to his work in textiles was his commitment to a lifetime of leadership in the business and civic worlds, including service on the Board of Directors of Bank of America and its predecessors for twenty-two years and as a Director of Dan River Mills and the Pneumafil Corporation. There were too many other affiliations to mention them all, but among them were service as an Elder and a Deacon of the Myers Park Presbyterian Church, President of the Foundation For The Carolinas, President of the Boy Scouts of America Mecklenburg County Council, Chairman of the Scout Camp Development Fund, President of the Charlotte City Club, Director of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of Novant Hospital, Director of the Novant Hospital Foundation, Director of the Good Fellows Club, President of the N.C. State University Alumni Association, President of Friends of UNCCharlotte, Director of UNCCharlotte Foundation (recipient of the UNCCharlotte Distinguished Service Award), Trustee of Davidson College, and Chairman of Davidson College Board of Visitors. He was also proud of his fifty plus years perfect attendance record as a faithful member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte.

It was the YMCA, though, that took his heart. He gave more than 50 years to various YMCA organizations, including serving as Vice-President of the National YMCA, serving as President and as Chairman of the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly – a 2,000 acre conference center – and as President of the Greater Charlotte YMCA. In 1997 he received the second John R. Mott award given for service to the Charlotte YMCA. He worked tirelessly with Scotty Washburn to change Blue Ridge Assembly from a summer meeting place into a year-round facility, and he brought Harry Brace to Charlotte to begin building the ninth largest YMCA in the United States. He remained active in the latter two organizations for more than 50 years each.

Together for a lifetime, the Barnhardts traveled to more than 100 countries and to all 50 states; they couldn’t say which was their favorite because they enjoyed almost all of them. They did love the Grand Canyon so much that they visited it many times, rafting down the Colorado River twice and savoring the beauty of the stars above. They enjoyed family gatherings, of course, and took walks in their south Charlotte neighborhood – the two of them, in no rush, stopping to talk to neighbors and to pat each dog they passed.

Bill is survived by his wife Harriet; by three sons – Will and his wife, Elsie, of Charlotte; Alan and his wife, Eleanor, of Charlotte; and Steve of North Port, Florida; by five grandchildren – Will Barnhardt and his wife, Leah; Keller Mulligan and her husband, Jim; Virginia Sutton and her husband, Lane; Elizabeth Kirkland and her husband, Jonathan; and Harriet Folsom and her husband, James; and by seven great-grandchildren: Abigail, James, Joyce, Ellie, David, Jennings, and Alice. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Thomas of Charlotte and by a brother, David of Charlotte, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by another brother, Charlie.

Memorials may be sent to the Myers Park Presbyterian Church, to the Greater Charlotte YMCA, to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, to the Novant Hospital Foundation, or to the Boy Scouts of America Mecklenburg County Council.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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  • David Dalton

    Harriet, Will, Alan & Steve,
    I no longer live in Charlotte and am out of touch with recent events such as the passing of Bill,
    Your husband and Father. I would like to tell you that he was by all means, ‘ a force of nature ‘,
    And a magnificent role model for me and all the children in our Foxcroft neighborhood.
    I grieve with your loss at the passing of a great man, benefactor, and friend.
    David Dalton

  • Saxby Chaplin

    I was saddened to learn of Bill's passing. I always enjoyed talking with him whenever our paths crossed. It was fun to see pictures from the trips that he and Harriet enjoyed over the years. He had an enviable love of adventure that made him seem younger than his actual age. More importantly though, he set an example of love of community and family that is hard to match. My condolences go out to Harriet, Will and Alan and the other members of Bill's family. This community will be poorer for his absence even though his spirit will live on in his family and in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him. He will be missed.

  • Rita Simpson

    My deepest sympathy to the family of Bill Barnhardt, a truly wonderful man.

  • Elizabeth A Hardin

    Truly a life well lived. Love leaves a legacy that never ends, and Bill Barnhardt's is remarkable.

  • Tracy Thomas

    I’m glad I met and spent time with Uncle Bill Charlie’s (Bill Thomas & Nancy Barnhardt Thomas) uncle. I’d heard many wonderful stories about him
    He was quite the character and very charming.
    He left an indelible and impressive legacy.

  • Charlie Thomad

    My uncle Bill would always brighten the room when he was there He was so interesting in all the things ge was involved in, the travels they took, I remember several times he would have a slideshow after a recent trip to share the ventures with others. He would always ask people what is going on with them and be interested in other people whenever he was in the room. I remember how excited he was to hear that my son Sam wanted to go to NC State, he had such a love for the college where he and his father went and he was so excited to hear that. His positive smile and positive attitude will be missed greatly he was such a great example for us all to be more like.