Bob passed away peacefully on October 17, 2004 at Park Regency Care Center in Chandler, Arizona, following a brief battle with cancer. Born September 11, 1925 in Wheeling, West Virginia, he was a 1943 graduate of St. Clairsville High School. He attended Ohio State University and graduated from Elliott Business School in Wheeling. Bob was a lifelong resident of St. Clairsville and retired from Consolidation Coal Company with 35 years of service.

Bob was a dog enthusiast and at various times raised and showed English Bulldogs, Australian Terriers and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. A number of his dogs earned championship status and some of his Australian Terriers were shown at Westminster. He had been a member of the Bulldog Club of America, an officer and Board Member of the Tri-County Kennel Club, a member and Director of the Australian Terrier Club of America and during the last 20 years an active member of the St. Clairsville Kennel Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Paul Hardesty and Ruth Smiley Hardesty and a brother, David Hardesty. He is survived by brothers, John R. (Nancy) Hardesty of Gold Canyon, Arizona and C. Richard (Dorothy) Hardesty of Kent, Ohio and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cremation has taken place. Calling hours will be at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. until time of memorial service at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Homer Harden officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.