Ardala J. Hepler, 83, of LaGrange, died on April 4, at The Laurels of Goshen.

Mrs. Hepler was born on Jan. 25, 1941, to Ernest and Verneda (Hamilton) Huffman.

Ardala was Miss Country Music Fort Wayne of 1958, sang on the "Ernest Tubb Record Shop" on WFM radio and was a 1959 graduate of Woodburn High School.

After graduation, she went to become part of the American Business Woman's Association from 1961-1965.

She was a secretary at Salem Center Elementary from 1966-1970.

Ardala was volunteer for the LaGrange County Mental Health Association from 1974-1984 and was on the Board of Directors from 1975-1978.

She was also the Superintendent of LaGrange Community Farmers Market from 1980-2005, served on both the Farmers Day Committee and LaGrange County Ag Awareness Council from 1992-1994; and was a founding member of the LaGrange County Farm and Family Safety Committee in 1996.

For over 30 years, she served as a board member for both the LaGrange County Farm Bureau and the LaGrange County Parks Department.

Mrs. Hepler was a homemaker, and from Dec.1973 until April of 2024, she was the Central Unit Coordinator of Radiant Acres.

She was named Homemaker of the Year of LaGrange County in 1993.

On July 31, 1965, in Yoder, IN, she married Russell D. Hepler. Mr. Hepler survives in LaGrange.

Also surviving are her three daughters, Mrs. Gerald (Deborah) Brewster of Wilmar, AR, Mrs. Michael (Ellie) Rankin of Battle Creek, MI, and Mrs. Brandon (Candice) Haase of Fairmount, IN; a "genuine" nephew, Marshall Huffman of Severn, MD; five grandchildren, Katelyn (Chris) Ruley, Evan (Allison) Haase, Russell Hepler, Faith Rankin, Elizabeth Hepler; a great-grandchild, Dean Haase; her brother, Myron Huffman of Spencerville; a sister-in-law, Marcia Huffman of Fort Wayne; a niece, Mrs. Karl (Molly) Olejniczak; a nephew, Royce Huffman; and was also the "Mother" to many that lovingly adopted her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Huffman, and Verneda Huffman.

Services will take place on Friday, April 12, at 11:00 a.m. at the LaGrange Church of God, 777 N. Detroit St., LaGrange, IN. Rev, Rustin Krapfl will officiate the service.

Burial will follow at Osborn Cemetery in rural LaGrange.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, April 11, from 2-4 & 6-8 pm at the Frurip-May Funeral Home, 309 W. Michigan St., LaGrange, IN.

Memorials may be made to LaGrange County Community Foundation, for the Russell Hepler Media Scholarship, 0045 N 250 W, LaGrange, IN 46761; Jamelle Godlewski Ministries, 0360 N 200 E, LaGrange, IN 46761; or to help Jen McDonald with her breast cancer treatments, at 801 Laurel Ave., Venice, FL 34285 or at her go fund me page, https://gofund.me/294126d5.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.fruripmayfuneralhome.com.