Ardelle Black, 101, of San Diego, was born in Dowagiac on Feb. 4, 1909, the daughter of Harry Shanafelt and Hazel Meyers.

She died in San Diego, Calif., on Tuesday, April 27, 2010.

Her brother, Jules Shanafelt, preceded her in death in 1990.

In 1927, Ardelle married Franklin Gard of Dowagiac.

They had a son, Larry Gard of Grand Rapids, who died in 2001, and a daughter, Sondra Gard, who lives in San Diego.

Following Franklin’s death in 1968, Ardelle moved to Anna Maria, Fla.,  to be near her brother and his family.

Ardelle married John Black of Anna Maria in 1989.

Following his death in 1994, she moved to San Diego to be near her daughter.

Ardelle is survived by: five adult grandchildren, Lynn, Jamie, Jon, Lisa and Dan; six great-grandchildren, Jeff, Olivia, Holly, Austin, Shane and Ramona; a sister-in-law, Katherine Shanafelt of Fort Collins, Colo.; a daughter-in-law, Lois Gard of Grand Rapidsl; and many nieces and nephews.

Ardelle had many interests and is especially remembered as a fun-loving and outgoing person who was interested in everyone she met in her long life.

We were all honored to know her. Her family will gather on Saturday, May 29, from 12 to 1 p.m. at Yazel and Clark Chapel, where a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.

Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Ardelle at www.yazel-clark.com.