Barbara Marie Hardman

Barbara Rauter Hardman was born April 18, 1944, in Milwaukee, WI, to Frederick William and Doris Hall Rauter. She attended Whitefish Bay High School and went on to attend Whitewater University in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
In 1966, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with her first husband and her daughter, Andrea Fisher Hardman. She lived in Atlanta for 10 years, during which time she was a part of the new L'eggs Hosiery venture. She was one of the route women driving all over North Georgia delivering L'eggs Hosiery to grocery stores and drug stores. Barbara then went on to become the "token female" sales representative for General Foods Corporation in Atlanta, calling on grocery stores in the Atlanta area. She married Dan Hardman in 1976, the love of her life, who she met on a "blind date".
In 1979, Barbara and Dan moved to Thomasville with Andrea, Barbara's daughter, who preceded her in death in 1983 at the age of 19.
Dan completed the building of their home in Thomas County in 1980. Barbara loved her home in the woods-it was her castle. Before her retirement, Barbara had spent 15 years in the medical field, then went to work for the Thomas County Library in Thomasville for 16 years, retiring in 2013. She and Dan had many amazing trips over the years-to Alaska, Belize, and Switzerland.
She and Dan have had many amazing "furry" children during their marriage, including four wonderful dachshunds and three amazing cats. Barbara dearly loved her animal children. Barbara also loved cooking and created many an incredible meal for friends and family. She also loved gardening in her huge pots both on the deck and in her front yard.
Barbara rejoined St Thomas Episcopal Church in 2024 and loved her church family. They meant so much to her. She also had special, caring friends in Thomasville, Bev and Lily, who had gone through life's trials and tribulations with her over the decades, as well as an ex-sister-in-law, Jill, in Wisconsin, who constantly buoyed her spirits and shared life with her through their emails. Additionally, her other Wisconsin friend, Jo, who she had known since kindergarten, corresponded with her as well.
Services will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to St. Thomas Episcopal Church music fund.