Ardy Kolb was born on June 28, 1940, to Theda Merle and Elmer Wilford Beningfield in DeWitt, Missouri. Ardy spent her early years with her parents and brother, Bill in Kansas City, MO. She graduated from Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri. From there, she attended Texas Women’s University studying occupational therapy; although, she really wanted to study nursing. However, after her first semester, a young sailor with the US Navy caught her attention. After dating briefly and corresponding via letters while he was in training in Norman, Oklahoma, Ardy (19) married Jerry Lee Kolb (also 19) from Kohler, Wisconsin on January 10, 1960, after her sophomore year of college.
Jerry would soon be deployed to Guam, and Ardy moved back with her parents while she waited to have her first child. Their first daughter, Deborah Lynn, was born on October 7, 1960, while Jerry was still overseas. Ardy raised their daughter while living with her parents in the US until Jerry’s return. They soon settled in China Lake, California. Ardy took on the role of a homemaker and stay-at-home mom to her young family. Ardy gave birth to her first son, Kevin Scott, on December 25, 1962. After moving to a home in Pomona, California, Ardy was introduced to a new view of Christianity, and she was compelled to accept Jesus as her savior. While she was not sure what that meant, she was sincere in her dedication to this view of Christianity. The family made a move to LaVerne, California had a second son, Marshall Todd, on September 3, 1964. After the family miraculously recovered from and survived a catastrophic car accident, they wanted to be closer to family, so they moved to Lombard, Illinois where they welcomed another son, Erik Lee. After moving to Overland Park, Kansas, for Jerry’s job, Ardy gave birth to her last child, her daughter, Kristin Noell. Finally, the family settled in Shawnee, Kansas in a house that would be the family home for 34 years.
Ardy continued to raise their children while Jerry worked outside the home. Ardy found personal spiritual meaning in her developing relationship with Jesus Christ. Ardy expressed her love of and faith in God in all she did. After some time of resistance, Jerry also accepted Jesus as his savior, and he soon believed it was their calling to open a Christian bookstore, so Glad Tidings Christian Bookstore became Ardy’s professional focus for 13 years. She helped touch the lives of countless individuals and families through her work at the bookstore. After selling the business, Ardy worked for Shook, Hardy, & Bacon law firm for a short time, and she later went on to work for the family’s home church as a pastor’s secretary. Ardy and the family were active in the church, and she found many ways to be involved personally in Sunday School, home groups, Bible studies, women’s groups, and more. Future jobs were also at the churches Ardy and Jerry attended as the secretary for the pastors.
Ardy was a creative person who needed outlets for her inspiration and imagination. She painted landscapes that she gifted to family and friends, wrote articles, books, and devotionals related primarily to her relationship with Jesus, and she worked hard to make a warm and comfortable family home. Ardy loved traveling with her husband who was also her best friend. She sewed, knitted, crocheted, and quilted tangible gifts of her love for her family and friends. Interestingly, Ardy was also a firearm marksman with frightening accuracy.
After retiring from her secretarial roles, volunteerism was a primary focus for Ardy’s time. She spent many days at her home church, Life Mission Church. She helped in various ways, but most recently, she assisted in processing donations for the church. She was always devoted to children, even beyond her own family. She volunteered her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for numerous children in this area, speaking on behalf of their safety and best interests.
Even with all these hobbies and volunteer passions, Ardy’s greatest pride and joy was being a mother to her children and a grandma and great grandma to the next generation of children in the family. She was a constant, steadfast positive presence in their lives, always offering the greatest depth of her love and support.
Ultimately, Ardy was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandma, great grandma, friend, and more. She wanted to share her love of Jesus through her actions toward others. She gave selflessly of her gifts and her time in support of the needs of family and friends.
Ardy is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and other extended family. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Kolb, children Debbie Hamil (Ed), Kevin Kolb (Ruth), Marshall Kolb (Barb), Erik Kolb (Susan), and Kristin Asquith (Robert), grandchildren Rebekah Ott (Mike), Jenny Borel (John), Scott Kolb (Crystal), Rachael Phillips (Isaac), Heather Brumley (Mitch), Anna Kolb, Weweng Salamera (Jay), and great grandchildren Alba Allen, Callie Borel, Miles Borel, Heidi Kolb, Ryker Kolb, Iris Phillips, soon-to-be Jamison Brumley, Angelo Salamera, and Maggie Salamera, her brother, Bill Beningfield (Inge), nine nephews, and one niece.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM and a funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM, at Life Mission Church, 16111 South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, Kansas 66061. Burial at Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. There will not be a formal processional to the cemetery.
