Ardath Stanton Francke, 91, died peacefully at home on Jan. 18, 2016.
She was born in Greenbrier, Ark., on April 6, 1924. As the daughter of a highway contractor, she lived in many towns throughout Arkansas and Mississippi until the family moved to Greenwood, Miss., in her elementary school years. After high school she continued her undergraduate education at the Mississippi State College for Women and studied English at Columbia University.
During the World War II years she was an elementary school teacher and radio announcer in Greenwood. She married Paul Francke, Jr., M.D. on July 1, 1949.
During a three-year stay in Chicago, Ill., she taught school while her husband completed his radiology residency. The family moved to Charleston in 1952, where she resided until the present. Born a Baptist, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston since 1952, and had an honorary life membership at First Presbyterian. Ardath was a devoted mother of one son and four daughters. She enjoyed horseback riding, bridge, skiing, gardening and the fellowship of serving her church. She was a member of the Kanawha Literary Society, the Kanawha Garden Club, The Presbyterian Women, West Virginia Institute for Spirituality and Children's Theater. She was a Head Start teacher and Girl Scout leader.
Ardath was a co-founder of Daymark, the organization for runaway youth in the Kanawha Valley. She nurtured, and was nurtured by, the wonderful people of Daymark.
Her father, Olvia Jordan Stanton, and her mother, Tabitha Elizabeth Duncan, died before her, as did her brothers, Wendall, John Hughes and Howard. Her husband died in 2010 after a marriage of 61 years.
She is survived by her son, Rick, and daughter-in-law, Georgie; daughters, Beth (Jon), Ann (Dick), Wendy and Paula (Bob); 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, with a family visitation at the church after the service.
The family thanks all of the angels of Hospice for their comforting care in her final days.
Donations in her memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301, or to Daymark, 1592 Washington St. E., Suite 2, Charleston, WV 25311.
You may send condolences to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.