Carol Duncan Hardin

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Carol Duncan Hardin passed away unexpectedly on the morning of January 15, 2021, at her home in Kannapolis, North Carolina. She was 84 years of age.

Carol, known affectionately to some as “Char,” adored her family, cared deeply for her community, and gave of herself generously. She relished being in everyday contact with her children and appreciated one silver lining of the pandemic: enjoying even more time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and church family through Zoom. Carol will be fondly remembered for the frequent “Thinking of You” cards she sent to her family, friends, and fellow church members. An active member of Rocky Ridge United Methodist Church, Carol loved the Lord and her church family. She volunteered graciously in the church's hotdog sales, served on several committees, taught Sunday School, cheerfully greeted everyone on Zoom Worship, and attended Spanish language classes. Carol’s decadent desserts will be sorely missed.

Born Mary Carolyn Duncan in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, in 1936, Carol distinguished herself at Travelers Rest High School as its first ever majorette, the editor of The Traveler newspaper, and, no surprise, an active member of the debate team.

Carol enjoyed an exciting, trail-blazing career, with bookends in journalism, advertising, and editing. With a strong sense of independence and persistent initiative, Carol pioneered the role of women executives in the telecommunications industry, as owner and president of a major interstate telecom company. The only C-suite woman in telecommunications boardrooms at the time, she forged the way for other women leaders in male-dominated professions. Later in life, Carol returned to her passions in her roles of author and editor for Outdoors Southwest Magazine, out of Arizona.

A voracious reader, sometimes consuming a book a day, Carol was intelligent, curious, and wellinformed about current events. A completed crossword puzzle was one of Carol’s daily joys. Scrabble Master “Grammy” had been outplayed at her favorite board game only by her grandson Thomas.

Carol is survived by her four cherished children and their families:

• Jeff & Denise Davis and Elizabeth Asher;
• Anne & Dan Groebner; Jesse, Nicco, and Joey Marble; and Danny Groebner;
• Tam & Bill Wensil; Steve & Sheila Wensil and Rhiannon & Rayna Ashley; Tim, Lydia, Emerson, and Channing Wensil; and Thomas, Stacey, and Harbor Wensil;
• Liane Fisher; Bill Fisher and his sons Billy & Kevin Fisher.

She also leaves behind her dearly loved sister and her family:

• Tommie Ann & Marvin Buchanan; Carroll & Del Buchanan; and Todd & Lisa, Justin & Carrie, and Brooke Buchanan.

Carol will also be missed by her countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Carol Hardin’s memory to

• Rocky Ridge Green Shoe Ministry, in support of which Carol made thousands of PB&J sandwiches, delivered along with other lunch items to people in need in her community (send check to 1428 Old Charlotte Rd., Concord, NC 28027);
•  White Mountain Apache Office of Higher Education, to help fund higher education opportunities for Apache women, a charity close to daughter’s Anne’s heart (send check to White Mtn Apache OHE, PO Box 250, Whiteriver, AZ 85941);
• Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, daughter Li’s favorite charity, which provides equineassisted therapy to special needs children (www.miteyriders.org).

A memorial in celebration of Carol’s life will be planned at a later date, when travel and hugging are safe once again.

We love you and miss you! You were the best Mom ever!