Richard D. Hardesty

Richard D. Hardesty, 77, of Goshen, died Saturday morning, April 10, 2010 at The Courtyard. He was born in Goshen on August 8, 1932, to Jesse L. and Helen Margaret (Cripe) Hardesty.  He married Melba Beatrice Richards on January 12, 1957 in Goshen.  She died May 28, 2003. A lifetime Goshen resident, Mr. Hardesty worked as a machinist at Goshen Rubber for more than 35 years and then as an inspector.  A US Army veteran of the Korean War, he was awarded a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Brenneman Memorial Missionary Church; United Rubber Workers Local #650; and the Goshen DAV and VFW. He is survived by a son, Richard "Rick" (Sue) Hardesty of Springhill, Kansas; five daughters, Sherry (Marcus) Nisly and Patsy "Joan" (Jim) Hershberger, both of Goshen, Dora (Kevin) Fleming of Olathe, Kansas, and June (Randy) Heflin of Michigan; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are three sisters, Joyce Kline of Three Rivers, Michigan,  Myrtle Hickey of Tennessee, and Mary (Wallace "Bus") Van Hook of Goshen; and two brothers, Charles (Shirley) Hardesty and Robert Hardesty, both of Goshen. He was preceded in death by a son, Sidney Dean Hardesty in 1964; three sisters, Marian Van Nuys, Shirley Hardesty, and C. Daisy Todd; and three brothers, Jess, Dale and Wendell Hardesty. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 13, at the funeral home. An 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2010, funeral service will be conducted at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  Pastor Russ Hunsberger of Brenneman Memorial Missionary Church will officiate. Burial will follow in West Goshen Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County.