1911
Roberta
2014
Roberta Elva Hardinger
July 9, 1911 — February 11, 2014
La Feria, TX:
Roberta Elva Hardinger was born July 9, 1911 in Garrettson, S. Dakota, the 5th of 7 children born to Iva Belle and Will Henry Collins. She entered into eternal rest on February 11, 2014.
Roberta attended West Waterloo schools and graduated from West High School in 1929. It was there that she met the man she would eventually marry, Eugene Donald Hardinger on August 30, 1930.
Raised in Waterloo, Iowa, Roberta enjoyed sharing fond memories of her childhood with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her fondest memories were of ice skating on a pond located directly behind her home in Iowa. Roberta often shared stories of how she and her friends would hold their thick wool coats open to catch the winter winds and glide around the pond. When she wasn’t ice skating, Roberta enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables to store in the family basement to help with the frigid winter months.
Roberta and Eugene had three daughters, Patsy Jean, Betty Anne and Mae Louis. While not drafted, Eugene contributed to the WWII efforts by managing one of many manufacturing companies in charge of building tanks. In 1946, soon after the war ended, Roberta and Eugene and their three daughters moved to Harlingen Texas. Eugene, an experienced carpenter and electrician, often lent his woodworking skills to various churches. Sadly, Eugene, loving husband and father, passed away on March 22, 1965.
After Eugene’s passing, Roberta worked in the cafeteria at Coakley Jr. High then accepted a secretarial position with the American Red Cross.
Roberta, an exceptional seamstress, was often hired by families in the Harlingen area to sew wardrobes for their children. When Roberta wasn’t working at the American Red Cross or sewing, she could be found babysitting, house sitting or caring for a friends elderly parents. No matter the request, Roberta always was supportive of her family and friends.
An example of her dedication was her commitment to the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Harlingen Texas. A pianist in her younger days, Roberta played the organ for the church until she lost her battle with arthritis. Still, for over 40 years, every Sunday Roberta sat in the last pew of the First Presbyterian Church on Jackson Street in Harlingen Texas, with a gentle smile on her face and in her heart.
Along with her beloved husband Eugene, Roberta is preceded in death by her daughters; Patsy Jean and Betty Anne. Roberta leaves her long and beautiful legacy to her daughter Mae (Hardinger) Smith and son in law Richard Smith of La Feria, as well as to her beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, who will forever carry her memories close to their hearts.
It was fitting that on her last day on earth Roberta asked her caregivers to make her look especially beautiful as she knew she would soon be meeting her Eugene. The Hardinger, Smith, Fullenwider and Webb families would like to thank the caregivers at Casa Grace in La Feria Texas and Rachel Lopez for their kindness, compassion and support during Roberta’s last days.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, February 14, 2014, 2:00 p.m., at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 208 W. Central Ave., La Feria Texas.
Roberta Elva Hardinger was born July 9, 1911 in Garrettson, S. Dakota, the 5th of 7 children born to Iva Belle and Will Henry Collins. She entered into eternal rest on February 11, 2014.
Roberta attended West Waterloo schools and graduated from West High School in 1929. It was there that she met the man she would eventually marry, Eugene Donald Hardinger on August 30, 1930.
Raised in Waterloo, Iowa, Roberta enjoyed sharing fond memories of her childhood with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her fondest memories were of ice skating on a pond located directly behind her home in Iowa. Roberta often shared stories of how she and her friends would hold their thick wool coats open to catch the winter winds and glide around the pond. When she wasn’t ice skating, Roberta enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables to store in the family basement to help with the frigid winter months.
Roberta and Eugene had three daughters, Patsy Jean, Betty Anne and Mae Louis. While not drafted, Eugene contributed to the WWII efforts by managing one of many manufacturing companies in charge of building tanks. In 1946, soon after the war ended, Roberta and Eugene and their three daughters moved to Harlingen Texas. Eugene, an experienced carpenter and electrician, often lent his woodworking skills to various churches. Sadly, Eugene, loving husband and father, passed away on March 22, 1965.
After Eugene’s passing, Roberta worked in the cafeteria at Coakley Jr. High then accepted a secretarial position with the American Red Cross.
Roberta, an exceptional seamstress, was often hired by families in the Harlingen area to sew wardrobes for their children. When Roberta wasn’t working at the American Red Cross or sewing, she could be found babysitting, house sitting or caring for a friends elderly parents. No matter the request, Roberta always was supportive of her family and friends.
An example of her dedication was her commitment to the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Harlingen Texas. A pianist in her younger days, Roberta played the organ for the church until she lost her battle with arthritis. Still, for over 40 years, every Sunday Roberta sat in the last pew of the First Presbyterian Church on Jackson Street in Harlingen Texas, with a gentle smile on her face and in her heart.
Along with her beloved husband Eugene, Roberta is preceded in death by her daughters; Patsy Jean and Betty Anne. Roberta leaves her long and beautiful legacy to her daughter Mae (Hardinger) Smith and son in law Richard Smith of La Feria, as well as to her beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, who will forever carry her memories close to their hearts.
It was fitting that on her last day on earth Roberta asked her caregivers to make her look especially beautiful as she knew she would soon be meeting her Eugene. The Hardinger, Smith, Fullenwider and Webb families would like to thank the caregivers at Casa Grace in La Feria Texas and Rachel Lopez for their kindness, compassion and support during Roberta’s last days.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, February 14, 2014, 2:00 p.m., at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 208 W. Central Ave., La Feria Texas.
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