Herb Hendershot, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died on June 27, 2018 in Safety Harbor, Florida, at the age of 86. Herb was born on February 15, 1932 in White Plains, New York to William and Ethel (Dungan) Hendershot. He was the youngest of five children.
He grew up in Armonk, New York, where he attended school through the 11th grade before enlisting in the Naval Reserve from 1949-1952. In 1952, Herb enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in the 308th Strategic Fighter Squadron as a trained jet mechanic in Albany, Georgia. He earned his G.E.D. in 1955 while in the military.
At the time of his honorable discharge in 1956, he was a Staff Sergeant, and had earned a National Defense Service Medal for Good Conduct. In 1957, he moved with his brother Bob to Elyria, Ohio where he worked as a truck driver for a construction company. In 1963, he began working for Kasper Foundry where he was employed for 25 years.
One of Herb’s favorite activities was bowling, and it was while bowling that he met Rose Opra, the love of his life. They married on June 22, 1963 and had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Rose and Herb were active together in many activities, especially enjoying entertaining friends and putting on dinners at the clubhouse at Amber Glades in Safety Harbor, where they had retired.
They continued to hold hands like newlyweds whenever they went out together. Herb and Rose had two children. Scott was born in 1965, and Susan followed along in 1966.
He was a loving father to his children, always proud of their accomplishments. Some of their fondest memories are going on vacation each summer to Vermont, playing Monopoly or Scrabble, and walking in the creek. Later in life, whenever some piece of technology wasn’t working right, he would call Scott and say, “Let me ask you a question”.
That became a running joke in the family. Herb became a grandfather in 1995 with the birth of Susan’s son, Tad, and again in 1998 with the birth of Jonah. He loved being a grandfather and keeping track of all of his grandsons’ activities, especially their musical abilities.
When family was together, he would play video games with his grandsons, happily losing any video race just for the sheer joy of playing. His most recent big trip was in May to see Tad graduate from Luther College in Iowa. Herb was excited to retire to Florida with Rose in 1998, first living in The Villages before moving to Amber Glades in Safety Harbor in 2007.
He continued to go bowling every week, set up for the weekly Coffee Klatch, and loved listening to music. He could burst out into song at a moment’s notice. Herb is survived by his loving wife, Rose, of Safety Harbor, Florida; his son Scott of Gulfport, Florida; his daughter Susan of Berkeley, California; his grandsons Thaddeus of Des Moines, Iowa and Jonah of Richmond, Virginia; his brother Bill of Port St. Lucie, Florida; sisters-in-law Violet of Rocky River, Ohio and MaryAnn of Lincoln Park, Michigan; nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Morris and Robert; and sister Eleanor. There will be a private, family service at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions – Gulf Coast Chapter: 727-RUN-FAST (727-786-3278), gcgagulfcoast@gmail.com.
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