Linda C. Hardesty

Hardesty, Linda Christine (nee Shafer) Linda went home to Our Lord Jesus Christ on October 25, 2014 due to complications associated with multiple forms of dementia; more specifically corticobsal degeneration, a rare early on-set form of brain disorder. Linda was born March 22, 1946 to Maurice Henry Shafer and Francis Jeanette Shafer (nee Levengood) at Abington, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. She was baptized on June 12, 1949 at the Abington Presbyterian Church. Her Confirmation was March 26, 1961 at the Christ Church (United Church of Christ), Norristown, PA. Linda’s early childhood was spent in and around Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. During her early teen years Linda accompanied her parents to Turkey where her father was employed by the U.S. State Department. The Shafers lived off the Turkish economy in the city of Izmir while Linda continued her schooling in the military school on Incirlik Air Force Base. Soon after the Shafers returned stateside they were resident around Norristown, Pennsylvania later moving to Orlando, Florida. Linda completed her high school education graduating from Evans High School in Orlando. Furthering her education she attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida taking a BA in Anthropology. It is here where she met and later married Stephen (Steve) Hardesty. Linda and Steve married August 2, 1968 at Grace Methodist Church, Orlando, Florida. To this union was born Heather Anne, a daughter, on November 15, 1978. Heather was their first and only child. Linda’s first permanent employment was as a social worker with Orange County (Florida) Department of Health and Social Services. During her 35 years of service she was occupied in all facets of social work ending her career as a Senior Social Worker, retiring in 2003. Linda was well liked by colleagues and clients alike. Her sweet and gentle nature was well suited to her occupation. Linda is a descendent of several pre-American Revolution German immigrant families. These families settled in southeastern Pennsylvania having surnames of Shafer, Kline, and Faust on the paternal side and Levengood, Moyer and Goodhart on the maternal side. Linda, even in her passing, continues her kindness. Linda is a participant in the Florida Brain Bank program organized through the University of Florida and the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville). By donating her brain tissues to the program she will help further research efforts to understand, prevent and treat dementia disorders. Linda is survived by her husband Stephen of Orlando; daughter Heather Ann Kunik (nee Hardesty), grandson Hudson Thomas Kunik and son-in-law Todd Kunik all of Casselberry, FL; brother Capt. Mark L. Shafer USN (Ret.) and wife Dulce of San Raefel, CA and Cmder Phaon Shafer USN (Ret.) and wife Janet of Churchville, PA. Linda’s remains will be entered at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park, Florida and in the memorial garden at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orland, and at the Hardesty mountain retreat in North Carolina. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home will handle the arrangements. Services will be announced at/for a later date. In lieu of flowers and cards a memorial gift in Linda’s honor may be made to the Alzheimers Dementia Resource Center. 1506 Lake Highland Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Reception to follow, if you plan to attend please email [email protected] so that we may make the necessary arrangements.