Ardilla Dunfee

Ardilla Dunfee, 90, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Saturday morning, June 19, 2021 at her home with her sons by her side. Born at home on March 19, 1931 in rural Merriam, she was the youngest child of Harold G. and Northa (Winebrenner) Kesling.

She played basketball while attending Wolf Lake High School and graduated with the Class of 1949. On January 7, 1951, Ardilla married Calvin C. Dunfee at the parsonage of Merriam Christian Chapel. Aside from helping Cal on the farm, Ardilla worked at Dana Weatherhead in Columbia City for 24 years, retiring in 1992. She also worked at Essex Wire and was a past Post Master in Wolf Lake. Over the years, she had attended Merriam Christian Chapel and Blue River Community Church.

Ardilla loved children; helping with youth groups, Boy Scouts, and adored her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning, crocheting and knitting. Ardilla will be remembered for her contagious laugh, being generous, and a very caring woman. She was strong willed but loved with everything she had!

Survivors include her sons, Michael Dunfee and Kerry (Judy) Dunfee; sister, Maxine (Johnny) Jagger; grandchildren, Jon and Jamie Dunfee, Kelly (Josh) Moore and Tony Dunfee; and great-granddaughters, Grace and Gabrielle Dunfee. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years on February 22, 2019, Cal Dunfee; sister, Leona Starkey; and brother, Thad Kesling.

Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday with Pastor Russell Riley of Saturn Christian Church officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Christian Chapel Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given in memory to Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Ardilla's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.