She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1942, then went on to study at UCLA, where she graduated four years later with a Bachelors Degree in English. After college, she worked as an editor at a local newspaper. She also worked in the U.S.O. during the war.

It was during this time that she met Robert Nelson Church, and they were married in 1947. They rented a small house on Lucille Street, both worked until 1953 when their first son, Robert L. Church was born. Ardis stopped working to stay home and care for "Robbie" while Bob continued his trade as an electrical contractor.

In 1958, while expecting their second child, they bought a house in Torrance, at 3638 West 169th Street, and their son Gregg S. Church was born there in October.

Ardis devoted her time to raising two boys, becoming a leading force in the local P.T.A., the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts. She was also very active at the Crenshaw Christian Center for many years, as a children's minister and served on the board there for some time.

Ardis was one that everyone called for ideas and help on everything from school dances, to weddings. She was a tireless worker and a great organizer. She lead and guided her sons throughout their youth, especially in activities. She was very proud as she helped them both to become Eagle Boy Scouts. She instilled her love of music in them, and promoted both both boys to play instruments...a gift that she loved all her life.

As she watched her boys graduate from North Torrance High, and go on to their careers, she was most proud when she watched them go down the aisle to marry and start their own families. She became a Grandmother in 1983 with the birth of Lauren to Bob and Valerie. She became a Grandmother twice more when Lisa and Jordan were born.

Ardis was a wonderful grandmother who always encouraged her grandkids to play with her expansive Teddy Bear Collection, and even let them play with her Miniatures, which she collected and cherished. She had a blackboard on the wall, and would always give her grandchildren chalk when they came over, to make pictures. Those pictures would stay up until the next visit.

Ardis lost her beloved husband Robert, in 1987, and at that time, Gregg and his wife Arlene came to live with and help her. Arlene and Ardis were fast friends and the healing process from losing her husband was shortened through Gregg and Arlene's efforts.

Ardis loved to play cards, and chat...actually, she loved to debate. She could sit for hours playing cards and get into a "discussion" in which she would be determined to prove her point. She and her son Rob spent tireless hours on the phone debating Scripture, especially end times. She was fascinated with Eschatology. She did endless research on the book of Revelations, and left volumes of determinations and findings.

She also loved to write poetry and music. She saw music in everything, and her gift of writing was God-given...Many have benefitted from some little poem or song she would slip to them.

In her later years, Ardis enjoyed doing things with her card club friends, and her Senior Group. She loved going places when she could, and really cherished her friends Ruth Buzzie, the Ogrens, the Romos, the Lopez's, and expecially her new found friends at Del Aire Baptist Church. She started going there at the invitation of Mrs. Buzzie and found a renewed faith and companionship that she was seeking.

Her passing leaves a void in our hearts, and the hurt of not having our "Great Debater" to talk to. However, her faith was strong and secure, she did not fear death...she just passed and went home. I know this, God is going to be busy answering stuff, and she is a peace. She is home with her mom, her sister, her brother, her husband and her friends...and she is happy.

Her family will miss her, her bears will miss her, her extended family and friends will grieve, but she always reminded us that God's timing is perfect, and ours isn't.

Her sons, Bob and Gregg and their wives Valerie and Arlene, along with the grandchildren Lauren, Lisa and Jordan wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been there for their mother. The special families from Kornblum and 169th Street, the relatives, Mrs. Buzzie, her Pastor, and her extended family at Del Aire.

A celebration of her life will be held at her church, Del Aire Baptist Church in Hawthorne, CA on Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 11:00 AM. Following the service, she will be laid to rest in Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Thank you all, for all you did, for your caring and prayers. It would be her wish for us at this time to reunite and draw closer together as we remember her and all the good times. Thank you all.

This is one of the many beautiful poems written by Ardis.

"CROWN OF THORNS"

Across an open bible, the cruel reminder lay,
An emblem of the suffering our Lord endured that day.
When, for our sins, He chose the cross, to die on Calvary
And pierced by a crown of thorns He claimed God's victory

The thorny branch was twisted, to simulate a wreath;
A symbol made by loving hands to crown the cross beneath.
And after Easter services, the crown was taken down
And laid upon the Holy Book, the thorns stark, bare and brown.

Three years the stained glass window shone down upon the Book.
Three years the dead, encircled thorns drew every passing look.
But, then, just like the Savior rose to take on life anew,
In between those thorny spikes, small tender green leaves grew.

Green leaves that grew from nothing, no water, earth or roots,
Green leaves upon a long-dead branch that suddenly grew shoots.
No nourishment but God's own word, upon the page beneath,
The living font, the source of leaves upon a wreath.