Mr. Franklin Delano Hardin, age 81, of Fleetwood passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Watauga Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 2pm at Boone Family Funeral Home with Pastor J. Bruce Ritter, Jr. and Rev. Jacky Ritter, Sr. officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1-2pm at Boone Family Funeral Home. Mr. Hardin was born in Watauga County on August 5, 1939 to the late James F. and Emma Carlton Hardin. Franklin served in the United States Army. He enjoyed going to the beach and spending time with his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and will be missed by all. Franklin is preceded in death by his brothers; EJ Hardin, Roland Hardin, Rex Hardin, Ronda Hardin, Charles Hardin, and Hugh Hardin; and his three sisters, Ella Mae Baird, Louise Lynch, and Ginger Hardin. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce Blackburn Hardin; one daughter, Mary Ritter and husband J. Bruce Ritter, Jr. of Gibsonville, NC; two brothers, Guy Hardin of Bossier City, LA, and George Baxter “Bud” Hardin and wife JoAnn of Fleetwood; one granddaughter, Rachel Ritter; and several nieces and nephews also survive. Flowers accepted.