Alderson-Clara Lenora Pinnell Hardesty, 88, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at the Brier Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Ronceverte, following a short illness.
Born Oct. 19, 1928, in Alderson, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Emmett Owen Pinnell, Sr., and the late Flossie Woolwine Pinnell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Paul Hardesty; son, Frederick Spencer Hardesty; and brother, Emmett Owen Pinnell, Jr.
Mrs. Hardesty graduated from Alderson High School in 1947 and attended classes at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon and Concord College in Athens. She worked at Alderson’s Store for three years, then went to work as a correctional officer at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Alderson, and worked there from 1955-1965. Following her employment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she was a reading aide, physical fitness instructor and kindergarten aid from 1966-1989, having worked at Alderson Elementary and Lewisburg Elementary, retiring from the Greenbrier County Board of Education after 23 years of service. Following her retirement, she substituted and taught art at Alderson Elementary as well as tutored after school. Mrs. Hardesty was a lifelong member of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, Alderson, where she was a deaconess, Sunday School teacher and served on the hospitality committee. She was a long time member of the Alderson 4th of July committee, a founding member of the Alderson Community Center, a member of Alderson Chapter #119 Order of the Eastern Star, and was a former member of the Woman’s Club of Alderson. Mrs. Hardesty loved crafts of all kinds. She made baskets, crocheted, knitted and loved to paint. She especially enjoyed doing the art work for the Alderson 4th of July Celebration and painting pictures of the Town of Alderson.
Survivors include daughter, Rebecca Anne “Sunshine” Pence and husband Boyd; brother, Richard Owen Pinnell; daughter-in-law, Joanne Elizabeth Hardesty Lightner; three sisters-in-law, Sarah Jane Costa and husband Lewis, Betty Pinnell Smith and husband, John, and Kay Hardesty; brother-in-law, Jack Hardesty and wife, Margaret; three grandchildren, Kristina Leigh Pence Sager, Kenneth Paul Pence and Sydnee Hardesty; five great-grandchildren, Leah and Brandon Schoonover, Matthew Pence and Deion and Asher Hardesty; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held Friday, June 9, at the Lobban Funeral Home Chapel, Alderson, where the Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan and Rev. Gary Baker officiated. Burial followed in the Alderson Cemetery, Alderson. Friends called Friday at the funeral home before the service.
Family and friends served as pallbearers.
