Woodrow W. Hardesty

Woodrow Wilborn Hardesty, an American Patriot, entered the pages of history on the 5th of September 2010 at Anderson County Hospital, Long Term Care in Garnett, Kansas. Woody, as he was called his whole life, passed away peacefully of natural causes. Born May 29th, 1917 in Eldorado, Illinois, he was the son of the late Dr. John F. Hardesty and Mary Virginia (Bealmer) Hardesty. Woody graduated from high school in Eldorado, attending college in Illinois. He then joined the US Navy. Woody married the former Helen Marie Eckstein on 1 March 1947 in St. Charles, MO. To this union two children were born; Mary Virginia and Robert Louis. At the end of his specialized training, Woody took a short leave and spent his birthday with his paternal grandmother, Nancy J. (Holmes) Hardesty at the family farm in Broughton, Illinois. Woody served his initial term in the Navy and got out. Immediately after Pearl Harbor he reenlisted in the Navy, coming under fire many times in the South Pacific and being on the first troop ship that successfully went into and out of Korea. Woody served with distinction for 20 years retiring in 1960 with the rank of Master Chief. Woody returned to Illinois from California in 1961 to help care for his dying father. He loved the family farm and elected to raise his children there. He later worked as a bus driver for the Norris City public school district retiring and becoming a gentleman farmer. Woody loved America, cars, motorcycles, going fast, guns/hunting, dogs, horses, building things, cutting and splitting logs, and of course his family. He rode motorcycles until 2005, when at the age of 88 he traded his last bike for a tractor. He grinned over that but he went like sixty on his tractor. He joined the Eagles Club in McLeansboro and bartended there for many years. He was a proud member of the VFW. He was an honorable man and very much loved by his distant cousins, Dick Hardesty, Dewey Hollingsworth, Ken Hunt, and Grant Hollingsworth visiting with him in person and via phone over the years. Helen, the love of his life, preceded Woody in death on the 18th of November 2000, as did his beloved sister, Dee Hake in 1990. Woody is survived by his daughter, Mary Virginia Hardesty of Vero Beach, Florida, son Robert Hardesty and wife Debora of Woodville, Texas, and grandson, Brian Bach of Vero Beach, Florida. He is also survived by loving nieces and nephews: Judy Cairns and husband Craig of New Philadelphia, Ohio; Debra Hansford and husband Bob of Elsberry, MO; Diane Martin and husband Danny of Garnett, KS; Laurie Vallejo and husband Blaise of Louisburg, KS; Sue Phillips of St. Charles, MO; Barbara Mitchell of Pilot Knob, MO; Sheree Evans and husband Eric of Edan, Utah; Michelle Gordan and husband Scott of Bellingham, WA; Julie Bybee and husband D.J. of Syracuse, UT; Steve Phillips of St. Charles, MO; Kent Eckstein and wife Karen of Harrisville, UT; Kenneth Eckstein and wife Connie of Festus, MO; Gene Eckstein and wife Jody of Bellvedere, IL; Ronnie Eckstein of Hillsboro, MO; Rick Eckstein and wife Pat of Imperial, MO; Donald Eckstein and wife Janet of Hillsboro, MO and Louis Eckstein and wife Debbie of Cincinnati, OH; numerous great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews. Woody had an unfinished dream; he still wanted to visit with his special cousin, Jake Hardesty of Dallas, Texas. They shared a special connection; Jake was older than Woody by one day. A public memorial will be held for friends and neighbors from Noon to 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 9, 2010, at the Eagle's Club, on North Jackson in McLeansboro, IL. Private family inurnment services to be held.