Troy Wayne Barnhardt

Troy Wayne Barnhardt, 76, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday, February 5, 2020, from injuries sustained in a highway accident. A celebration of Troy’s life will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15th at Cold Springs United Methodist Church, where he was a life-long member. The Rev. Dr. Tony Bell will officiate, and the Barnhardt family will receive friends on Friday, February 14th from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Gordon’s Funeral Home. Born in Concord on July 12, 1943, Troy was a son of W.O. Barnhardt, Sr. and Essie Mae Burris Barnhardt. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Archie Barnhardt, sister-in-law Rebecca Hurlocker Barnhardt and brother-in-law Alvin Hurlocker. For his entire life, Troy was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and was a charter member of Troop 5 at Cold Springs UMC. His wife, Lila, often teased him that scouting was his real true love. He was an Eagle Scout, and a Scout Master at the local and district level. Troy earned the Silver Beaver, the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout and the James E. West awards for meritorious service guiding and shaping the lives of individuals and the troop. Troy’s leadership skills extended to serving as mayor of Mt. Pleasant for nine years; past chairman of the Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County (WSACC); past chairman of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) of Cabarrus County; past member of the Cabarrus County Community Foundation, and is the current chairman of the advisory board of The Salvation Army where he was actively involved in the current capital campaign for the new Center of Hope for homeless children. Troy also was active with the United Methodist Men in their service projects for the greater good and a life-time fixture at the Cold Springs UMC Annual BBQ. He retired as director of network services from CTC Communications after 35 years of service. Left to cherish Troy’s memory are his wife of 25 years, Lila Keen Barnhardt of the home; a daughter, April Barnhardt Whitlock (Thomas); two step-sons, Robert Anthony “Tony” Fister (Maria) and Herbert “Herb” Fister (Amy); seven grandchildren, Nicolas Fister, Alex Fister, Camden Whitlock, Carson Whitlock, Laura Fister, Naomi Fister, and Cailin Whitlock; three sisters, Shirley Hurlocker, Kathy Flowe (Mike) and Joyce Allmon (Dexter); a brother, Bill Barnhardt; and multi-generations of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army Capital Campaign for The Center of Hope, 216 Patterson Avenue SE, Concord, NC, 28205 or to Boy Scout Troop 5, Cold Springs UMC, 2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord, NC, 28025.