Harry Lyle Pardue

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Harry Pardue Obituary

Harry Lyle Pardue

Harry Lyle Pardue, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, May 30, 2020, at his home in Ferndale, WA, surrounded by family.

Born in Big Creek, WV, Harry worked on the family farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse where his oldest sister was the teacher. From these humble beginnings he went on to study chemistry at Marshall University (BS, MS) and the University of Illinois (PhD), joining the faculty at Purdue University in 1961, where he spent his entire career, retiring in 2002. During his career he mentored over 100 graduate-level students as they achieved their advanced degrees, served as the international editor for the journal Analytica Chemica Acta, was a lifetime member of the American Chemical Society, served as the Head of the Chemistry Department for four years, and broke new ground in the areas of analytical chemistry research and instrumentation. He co-authored two academic textbooks and published many journal articles and books, including his most recent book at the age of 85. In 2002, the Purdue University Chemistry Department created the Harry Pardue Center for Advanced Instrumentation, but Harry was most proud and humbled by his numerous Teacher Of The Year awards as voted by his students.

Harry was a multidimensional man. He enjoyed participating in high school sports, stayed physically active throughout his life, and was a longtime Purdue Boilermaker fan. He loved working in the yard and maintaining his monster garden that fed the neighborhood and family. Most of all, Harry was the ultimate husband, partner, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor, demonstrating unconditional love and acceptance for all.

He is survived by his wife Mary Schultz Pardue, his former wife Ruby Pardue, his brothers Harold and Donald, his sons Jon Pardue (Kris), Brian Schultz, and Michael Schultz (Kati), and his grandchildren Nicholas Pardue, Phillip Pardue, and Madisyn Schultz.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the Harry L. Pardue Fund for Advanced Instrumentation at https://giving.purdue.edu/InMemoryofHarryPardue or to your local food bank.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Journal & Courier from Jun. 6 to Jun. 7, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Harry Pardue

12 Entries

Gisela Vichot

November 10, 2022

I worked for (or as he enjoyed reminding me "with") Dr Pardue in the late 70s. I was his secretary for several years. A very intelligent yet kind and humble man whom I always remember as a true gentleman, he is missed. My condolences to his family.

Hugo

May 27, 2021

Harry was a truely great friend & my thesis advisor. Great memories-I am proud to have worked with him.

James M Jordan

June 21, 2020

Sincere sympathy to the family of Dr. Pardue. He was my graduate advisor 1986-1991. I wish I could post a couple of more pictures from my time in Dr. Pardue's group. We were an eclectic collection from across the world and United States. Attached here is a staged photograph I made him take for our group board on the wall as you walk into the group space. He loved it.

When I was choosing my graduate project with him I told him I wasn't too good with computers and wasn't a big fan of math ... so, my project became "Experimental evaluation of theoretical response equations for an unsegmented flow system with a well-stirred mixing chamber" ... LOTS AND LOTS of calculus and computer programming in C. Also, with my college minor in English, he taught me my editing skills, and frequently pushed papers my way to review. Harry Pardue changed my life for the better in so many ways! So very grateful for his direction and encouragement.

We seemed to have an ongoing effort to make sure fun was also part of the important work we were doing. I remember after he told me he once pennying his professor into his office, I did the same to him one day. To penny lock a door you simply jam pennies between the door and the hinge from the outside, which prevents the door from opening from the inside. From then on he would jerk his door open if he thought he heard anyone outside. LOL.

He always gave me credit for his purchase of the Miata. I told him even after the long wait-list he could sell it for a profit right off the lot. He bought the Miata and kept it for many years!

Graduate school is so much more than research - it can be a lot of growing up too. In many ways Dr Pardue was also a father figure to all of us "kids".

Thank you, for so much, Dr. Pardue. Until we meet again.

Jim Worthington

June 19, 2020

Harry was my major professor when I got my degree. As a mentor, he was always encouraging and helped me develop a critical thinking process that I used moving from science into business. He encouraged comradery in his research group with many visits to his home. He was very competitive in sports as I learned playing squash and touch football with him. Ruby and Harry were also very trusting in allowing Polly and I to baby sit their house while they were on sabbatical. We have many fond memories of our time at Purdue and he will be missed.

Bill and Patsy ( Fischbach) Temple

June 12, 2020

So sorry to hear this news. Mary Lou, we are so sorry and extend our sympathy to you and your whole family. We only met Harry a couple times but felt we did know him as a great gardener with lots of stories to tell. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Ron Majors

June 12, 2020

I was a grad student coming to Purdue a couple of years after Harry and Sam Perone joined the faculty. Both of them were more like fellow grad students than professors. I remember the touch football games that we all participated in. Harry was a serious athlete and was not afraid to throw a body block into a grad students to help his team. Although I worked for Buck Rogers, when Buck was on sabbatical or traveling Harry was always there providing help and would take time to meet even though I wasn't his student. I remember how he and Ruby were kind to the grad students. He was a great teacher who was loved by the students. Rest in peace, Professor Pardue

Mary Wirth

June 12, 2020

As a graduate student in the mid-70's, I found Harry to always be kind and friendly and smiling. Despite his busy and accomplished academic life, he would stop in the hallway to chat about research, which made us feel a true part of the department. He even played volleyball with us on Saturday mornings at the co-rec, and he was quite a good athlete. Harry was one of those people who was great in every way.

Lynn Rider

June 11, 2020

As a secretary down the hall from Dr. Pardue at Purdue, i enjoyed seeing him as he always had a smile and kind words for everyone! A true gentleman. My condolences to his loved ones.

Amy Perone Spade

June 10, 2020

We enjoyed our time with Dr. Pardue and Ruby and Jonathan for decades....growing up alongside the research and academic peers of our father was an honor, a privilege, leaving imprints on who we are to this day. Harry gave me my first Sweet Sixteen KISS on my cheek in June 1978 before the foursome were on their way out to the Fleur-de-lis room ... who could forget that? A true family friend for the ages.

Robert Baisden

June 9, 2020

I just read Harry's obit. and saw that he and I were born and raised just miles apart in Logan Co. WV and only 6 days difference in our age. Wish I had known he lived so close to me. Missed out on some good opportunities to talk about WV. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.

Ruby A. Pardue

June 7, 2020

A man who was so full of life. A man who was a bigger star in his own right than most of us. You will always remain in my heart and the love and respect we had for each other will remain in my heart until my end.

Vonda J Dowell

June 6, 2020

As a long-time secretary in the General Chemistry Office at Purdue, I remember Dr. Pardue with much fondness! My deepest sympathy to his family!

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