Thelma Farlow Hardman

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Thelma Farlow Hardman, 97, formerly of Greencastle, died Thursday, July 30 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

She was born Nov. 12, 1917 in Paoli, Ind., to the late Paul and Clara Wells Farlow.

In 1941, she graduated from Earlham College. She earned a masters degree from Indiana University and did post graduate work at DePauw University and the University of Vermont.

As a teacher-librarian, her career spanned 28 years. She taught high school in Paoli, Marengo and Greencastle.

In 1947, when the state of Indiana first required school librarians to be licensed, she became the first trained librarian employed by Greencastle High School. She directed the organization of the three elementary school libraries and later became the middle school librarian for 21 years. She derived great pleasure training many competent student librarians, several of whom chose library work as a career.

Thelma was a member of Pi Lambda Theta, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Delta and Beta Psi chapters of Tri Kappa. She was also a member of the Greencastle Teachers Association, Indiana State Teachers Association, and the National Education Association.

Her lifetime church membership was with Paoli Friends Meeting. She regularly attended Gobin United Methodist Church where she was active in the women's circle.

In 1944, she married Harold Hardman, who preceded her in death Jan. 14, 1999.

Survivors include her daughter, Janet Elliott and her husband Mark of Naples, Fla.; grandchildren Jennifer Thompson and her husband BJ of Chapel Hill, and Jeff Elliott and his wife Elizabeth of Warwick R.I.. She also loved five great-grandchildren, Lilly, Will, Grady, Austin and Owen. Surviving sisters are Mildred Pritchett, Munster; Ruth Uyesugi, Indianapolis; Dorothy Geralde and her husband Bob, Salem. Surviving brothers are Raymond Farlow and his wife Rosie and Ed Farlow and his wife Reba, all of Paoli.

She will be remembered as a gentle soul, quick to smile or laugh, never loud, firm in her convictions but tolerant of all. We will miss her.

Services will be conducted at noon Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home at 602 E. Washington St., Greencastle.

Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon just prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Putnam County Foundation, 2 S. Jackson St, Greencastle, IN 46135. A Hardman Family Scholarship Fund has been established to provide a yearly award to a Greencastle High School graduate planning to enter the teaching profession.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family c/o www.BittlesandHurt.com