Winfield Hardy, MD
February 24, 1920 ~ October 11, 2004
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville – Winfield “Bill” Hardy was born February 24, 1920 to the late George and Mary Hardy. He was the youngest of four children.
During high school, Bill lived for sports, primarily football and basketball. He played football in college for two years and then joined the Michigan State Police. He married his childhood sweetheart, Louise Dobbyn in 1942. She preceded him in death in 1997. He returned to the State Police after a tour with the Navy and Army in World War II. He later returned to college and graduated from Andrews University in 1952 and was a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1960. He was a Board Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. He was a much beloved family physician in Arden for 30 years. In his retirement, he volunteered as a physician at the ABCCM Medical Ministry. He was a long time member of the Salem Seventh-day Adventist church in South Carolina.
He and Louise had two children, Thomas Hardy, with wife Vickie, of Candler and Candace Hardy, with husband Kirk Hubbard, of Arden.
Other survivors include his wife, Vesta Chandley Hardy of Asheville, whom he married in 1998 and grandchildren, Todd Hardy and Jon Hardy, both of Baltimore, MD and Erin Berkey Skaggs, with husband Jeffrey, of Ellijay, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am Thursday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian officiated by Bill’s friend and medical school classmate, Ron Krum, MD. Interment will be at 3:00 pm in the Salem Seventh-day Adventist Church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 pm Wednesday at the funeral home on Long Shoals Road.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to ABCCM Medical Ministry, 155 Livingston Street, Asheville, NC 28801 or Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
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I can not begin to count the number of times good ol’ Doc Hardy put me back together growing up… But the one memory that will forever be with me about this gentle, giant of a man was the attention he gave to my Dad during the last days of his life. When we brought him home to die, every morning and every evening Doctor Hardy came by the house to check on him, and I think to check on all of my family as well. The sight of Doc Hardy kneeling by Dad’s bed, not taking a medical reading, but saying a prayer is one memory I always cherish. Well done good and faithful servant. May God’s Angels hold you in the safety of their wings…
He was one of a kind. I am so sorry. -Fran Barber
Dr. Hardy was our family physician for years. He took such great care of us. We were not only his patients but his friends. We feel very special to have had the opportunity to know Dr .Hardy! He will be missed!
I am sure that I am one of thousands of patients of Dr. Hardy over the years. I remember him fondly throughout my childhood as our family physician. My sincerest condolences go out to Dr. Hardy’s family; I hope that through your grief that you can see all of the good that he has done for many people in Asheville throughout his career.
Dr. Hardy was a wonderful person. He had such a big heart for his patients. The community will not be the same. He will definitely be missed!
In memory of a great physician who carried his faith into his work.
Dear Vesta and Family,
I am JoAnn’s pastor, Dennis Thurman. I regret that I will be unable to attend the family night and funeral due to prior commitments, but I did want you to know that I am praying for you. JoAnn and her husband Gil are special people to us. We are blessed to have them in our church. I know their hearts ache for your loss. The people of Pole Creek Baptist Church are praying for you.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Dennis Thurman
Dear Vesta and Family:
We had the privilege of meeting Dr. Hardy only a few months ago in your home. What a kind and caring person he was. To have him for a Physician surely was a blessing indeed. We did not have that honor but my brother did, and found him to be the embodiment of all a Physician should be. We knew him briefly as a man that loved his God, his family, his friends and his patients. We also saw the deep and abiding love he had for you expressed in so many ways. The world is truly a better place and Asheville in particular, with his gentle and empathetic care of those lives he touched, healed and enriched. What a wonderful legacy for you and the rest of your families. Our love and prayers are with each of you tonight and tomorrow as we are unable to be at the visitation and funeral. We love you dearly, Kathleen & Everett Raines
To Candi, her brother, and Dr. Hardy’s wife: It has been my sincere privledge to know and love Dr. Hardy. He has taken care of my family since coming to WNC as a physician. He will be missed in the community sorely. He has been an inspiration to me, as I aspire to my own medical career. He always had time to share, love to give, and oh that laugh. I miss him. June Melton
My deepest sympathies to the family of Dr. Hardy. What an incredible doctor and person he was. I loved him greatly, and he is a fond childhood memory for me. He was truly a family member and I will miss him very much.
Katrina Brown Killian
Even though I haven’t seen him in years I still think of the joy of life that he instilled in others around him.
For the family who will miss him you will be me remembered in our prayers.