MENTONE- Francis “Frank” D. Hardesty, 75, of 410 S. Walnut St., Mentone, died at 10:20 p.m. June 8, 2011, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, after being hospitalized for two and a half weeks. He was born Sept. 7, 1935, in Argos, to Francis “Frank” D. Hardesty and Ocie Ellis, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 4, 1954, in Culver, at the Maxinkuckee United Methodist Church he married Alice Joan Wynn Hardesty, who survives in Mentone. He was a lifelong resident of Marshall and Kosciusko counties. He graduated from Argos High School in 1953. He served two years in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1954 until 1956. Along with his wife, he founded Hardesty Printing in 1974 and worked there until retirement in 2005. He served eight years on the Mentone Town Board, six years on the Tri-Township Fire Control Board, and 40 years as a Mentone volunteer fireman. He was a member of the Mentone United Methodist Church, and was active in the Mentone Youth League for several years. Also surviving are two sons, Randy (and spouse Joyce) Hardesty, Rochester, and Bill (and spouse Barbara) Hardesty, Mentone; two sisters, Corriene Mechling, Tippecanoe, and Illiene Hight, Warsaw; a brother, Keith Hardesty, California; two grandsons, Blake (and spouse Molly) Hardesty, Rochester, and Bryce Hardesty, Mentone; a granddaughter, Brittany Hardesty, Mentone; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by six sisters: Madeliene Senff, Audry Stephenson, Evelyn Byers, Zepha Small, Karen Hileman, and Kathy Hardesty; a brother, Dan Hardesty; and a grandson, Matthew Hardesty. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Mentone United Methodist Church, with Rev. Amber Karkosky-Litten officiating. Burial will be in Mentone Cemetery, where military graveside rites will be performed by the Leroy Shelton America Legion Post 36 and the VFW Post 1343. Calling is from 3 to 7 p.m Saturday at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone. ***** Memorial contributions may be made to Mentone United Methodist Church or the Mentone Fire Department. Online condolences may be sent to www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
