Frances Hardesty

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Frances Hardesty

Frances “Anne” (Eberle) Hardesty was born July 5, 1930, and died November 22, 2025. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, the young family soon returned to Ohio where her father supported the family during the Great Depression by supplementing his brick laying jobs by hustling pool. A talent that has been passed on to a few of his children and grandchildren (the playing more so than the hustling). As a young woman she lived in California for a short time and in Washington DC where she worked at the Department of Health and Welfare. After returning to Dover, she was employed by Dover Chemical in their early years, as secretary to the President. In the late ‘60s she joined her dear friend Rachel Redinger in her dream of bringing our local Native American history to life, volunteering as the first secretary, founding member and fundraiser for Trumpet in the Land and hosting the Ohio Outdoor Drama’s fledgling office in her dining room.

As a second “mom” to many young, local musicians and their friends, her actions were often misunderstood by their parents. “Tough love” was not in her vocabulary. That most caring and accepting attribute occasionally got her in hot water. Fearless to their parents’ threats, she would never turn anyone out and she offered a “second home” to many. Being the “Den Mother” that she was, she often found herself driving and chaperoning young local lads to the popular rock music concerts of the times. She particularly liked the Vanilla Fudge, The Young Rascals and Cream, and became quick friends with Cheech and Chong. 

At age 39, she decided to learn to fly. She took lessons at Harry Clever Field in New Philadelphia and obtained her student pilot’s license. She flew solo in and out of many airports until she finally came to her senses. Her favorite plane to fly was the Cessna 150. Later in life she could hardly believe she had done it. Nonetheless, it was a major accomplishment of which she was very proud.

A free roaming spirit facilitated her move to Sarasota, Florida, residing there for many years and working as a legal secretary. Then on to Northern Idaho where she lived in a teepee on the side of a mountain canyon. She was a freethinker with a lifelong interest in spirituality and the paranormal, an avid reader and a prolific knitter of socks, which will be worn for decades by the many fortunate recipients of her personally fitted works of art. Her greatest joy was donating her wares to Native American tribes and Russian orphanages.

She retired from her working life in Florida to return to Ohio to care for her parents in their home, built by her father, where they spent their last golden years together, without the necessity of suffering in a nursing home (a long standing family tradition of caregiving of which she herself was a beneficiary). This brought unimaginable relief and they so enjoyed the company and care. 

Being the matriarch of the family, she found herself the keeper of the records, spending long hours working the internet and family lore to fill in the family tree and reaching out to newfound relatives. This provided her with many new friendships and interesting stories to share.

She had a generous heart, often to the point of self-detriment, and was a loving friend to all who crossed her path and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. 

She is survived by her beloved children, Edward C. (Cindy) Hardesty and Matthew Gerald Hardesty of Blairsville, GA, Allison (Lee) Hardesty-Bechtol of Dover, granddaughter Carrie (John) Herbert, great grandsons Ian Pyle and Drayven Herbert, who made her life complete, siblings Merry Norris of Columbus, Charles (Connie) Eberle, David Eberle of Dover, and many dear nieces and nephews, all of whom she was so proud for their great accomplishments and generosity. She is predeceased by her parents, Mary “Frances” (Wilson) Eberle and Charles K. Eberle, brother Robert Eberle, husband Gerald E. Hardesty, and dear friend and sister-in-law Lynn Eberle.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

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