Peggy Lou Hardcastle

Peggy Lou Hardcastle, 84, of Abilene and formerly of Fort Worth, died Friday, June 2, 2017 in Abilene.   A graveside service will be at 11:00 a.m. on June 5, 2017, at the Buffalo Gap Cemetery, with a visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Ms. Hardcastle was born August 16, 1932, in Arp, Texas.  When Peggy was an infant she and her family moved to Conroe due to her father’s job with the Humble Oil and Refining Company.  She and her family lived at an “Humble Camp” for many years.  Peggy was a proud graduate of Conroe High School where she played trumpet, played tennis and basketball, and worked on the school paper.  After high school Peggy briefly attended Elliot Business College in Houston.  She moved to Fort Worth in 1951 where she resided most of her adult life.  She began employment at Convair (later General Dynamics) in 1951.

In 1966, at the age of 34, Peggy quit her secure job at General Dynamics in order to pursue her dream to become a physical education teacher.  She “put herself through” college, graduating from Texas Wesleyan College in 1968.  She taught in the Fort Worth I.S.D. for her entire career.  Of course she expertly taught her students important principles of physical education and social studies; but, more importantly, she taught them the value of hard work and pursuing their dreams.

Peggy lived life to its fullest.  She was loved dearly by her colleagues and many great friends.  Her interests and hobbies were varied.  She was an avid and skilled duplicate bridge player—winning many championships with her life-long best friend, Nina Hobbs.  She enjoyed bowling, table tennis, badminton, water sports, scuba diving, and, at one time, she took flying lessons!

Peggy was devoted to her family; and, she doted on her four nephews.  She entertained them when they were young; and, she encouraged and inspired them throughout their lives.

Peggy was well-known for her love for animals.  She always had a canine companion.  She especially loved taking in abandoned animals and “nursing” them back to health.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, William Howard Hardcastle and Phara T. Hardcastle, her sister Patsy Ruth Hamilton, and her best friend, Nina Ray Hobbs.

Peggy is survived by her nephews, William Curtis Hamilton, Patrick Mark Hamilton and his wife Sandy, Keith Lee Hamilton and his wife Rae Ann, Clark Lance Hamilton and his wife Linda, and numerous cousins, great nieces and great nephews.

The family thanks the staff of Windcrest Health Care Center, Rachel Robinson, Nikki Marion, and her friends at University Place for their loving care of Peggy.