Ralph Edward Hardesty – 6 Sept 1942 – 25 August 2011. He was 68 years + 19 days of age. Ralph was born in Kingwood, WV, son of Wallace Eugene Hardesty & Mary Jane (Gallagher) Hardesty. He grew in Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia. His family lived there till 1959, when they moved to Sarasota, FL.
Ralph was in the first Graduating Class of Riverview High School – 1960. Here he met the Love of his life Patricia Ann Bennett, (she was in the Class of 1962 at Riverview High School). They were married on 4 August 1962.
Ralph attended Manatee Jr. College for 2 years, before he joined the US Air Force. He was stationed in the Philippines Islands during the Vietnam War. He then returned to the US and was stationed in Valdosta, Ga. After his service to his country he returned to Sarasota, FL, and entered into business (1966) with his father – Hardesty Electric Service, Electrical Contractors.(After his father passed way, he (Ralph) ran the business till his death, they have been in business for 50 years) This business is now being run by Ralph & Pat’s son Timothy Lynn Hardesty, making it a 3rd Generation company.
Ralph was very active in Sarasota community being a member of Sertoma,& on Sara.Builders. Assoc. he coached the youth (12-13 years of age)football team Navajo, at Ringling Redskins, plus Travel Teams, also Babe Ruth Baseball –Savon Team, and Cardinal Mooney JV Team and the Varsity team, for 28 years he coached teams, and loved every minute. Ralph was very active in sports also, playing Golf, and Softball, he played in the Senior Softball Leagues from the time he was 50 till he turned 65. He and Pat, traveled all over the United States playing ball, he was a member of the Legends Softball team and won many, many Championships & World Series, tournaments.
Ralph (known as “Bud” to many family and friends) and Pat were blessed with a very special son, Timothy Lynn Hardesty, he graduated from Riverview High School in Class of 1988. Timothy married Connie Kirk of Sanford,NC, and they blessed our lives with 2 wonderful granddaughters, Cinamon & Skyler Hardesty,(Cinamon will grad. from Riverview High Class of 2012, and Skyler class of 2016).
Ralph, left a part of his heart in Terra Alta, WV with family and friends, so they spent a lot of time the last few years in their home in Alpine Lake, Terra Alta, WV, enjoying semi retirement. He loved being there and reminiscing with his special Uncle Dick & Uncle Danny Gallagher, as that made him feel so much a part of all that was going on there in Terra Alta, and all the long distant phone calls were so precious to them both. Ralph felt that WV was the closest thing to Heaven, and enjoyed looking out the window and seeing Deer walking across our lawn, and just riding around looking at all the beauty of the country, and remembering all the past locations of this family & friends, or that business, etc.
Ralph leaves behind his wife of 49 years Patricia Ann Bennett-Hardesty, son Timothy Lynn Hardesty, (Connie, Cinamon & Skyler, a sister Margaret “Sis” Hardesty-Blain (Larry), nieces & nephews -Debbie Soward-Thacker, Tony Soward, Lee Ann Blain-Seaboyer, Lisa Bennett-Smiley, Amy Blain-Kinsey, Wally Blain and all their families, cousins, uncles, his mother-in-law Stella McGinniss.
He was preceded in death by his parents – Wallace and Mary Jane Hardesty, his grandparents, Brydon & Beatrice Benson-Hardesty, & Madeline Wyndham-Gallagher & Edward Gallagher, & Aunts- Doris Hardesty-Campbell & Jackie Gallagher-Johnson & Shirley Everly-Hardesty and cousin Beverly Hardesty-Calhoun, Uncles-John, Nick, Stephen, Vincent, Edward Gallagher, Edward Hardesty.
Ralph was greatly loved by his family and friends and will be missed, but we are happy that he is no longer in pain, he fought a hard battle with 3 types of Cancer.
Instead of flowers please make a donation to Tidewell Hospice House of Sarasota, 170 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL
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