Ardath Joan McKelvey

Ardath Joan McKelvey passed away on June 17, 2015 in Watsonville at the age of 84. Ardath was born to Boyd M. Wall and Genevieve Ardath Cornwell on August 28, 1930 and raised in Monterey Park, California along with her brother Eugene B. Wall. She graduated from Mark Kepple High School and later married Harold Lichtenberger in 1951. They had 4 children together, that they raised in Temple City, CA. Ardath always loved people and children. This was reflected in her work life as she ran a day care center and worked as a nurses assistant and a caregiver for the elderly.



Later, Ardath married William McKelvey, whom she spent the last 35 years with. A longtime resident of Alhambra, she lived most of her life there, and has resided in Santa Cruz for the past 20 years.



Ardath was the center of the family and she loved making home cooked meals for them. She also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. She sang in Audrey Myers Choir at Bible College of Southern California, and was married in Bethany Church in Alhambra by Dr. Britton. For most of her life, she was a devout member of Bethany Church, and raised her children to attend with her. Ardath was a missionary at heart. She was a good Christian woman.



Ardath is survived by her husband, William McKelvey of Watsonville, her children; Laura Estep of Santa Cruz, Lanette Strimaitis of Franklin, TN, Daniel Lichtenberger of Monterey Park, CA and Christine Camano of Alhambra, CA; brother, Eugene Wall of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren, Lizzy Camano of Santa Cruz, Luke and Jacob Strimaitis of TN, Jonathan and Priscilla Camano of Alhambra, CA, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by Harold Lichtenberger, who passed away in 2007.



The Stagnaro family from Gildas Restaurant has been like a second family over the years. Ardaths daughter, Laura Estep has worked at Gildas for 30 years. Her granddaughter, Lizzy Camano and Lizzys mom Christine, also worked for Gildas



Friends and family are invited to the visitation at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street in Santa Cruz today (Friday June 19 2015) from 2-4 pm. And again on Monday, June 22, from 2 pm. until 6 p.m. Funeral services for Ardath will be held on Friday, June 26 at White Emerson Mortuary in Whittier beginning at 11 a.m. Pastor Dennis Schreiber of Bethany Church of Alhambra will officiate. Burial will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA.