Ardith Marie (Combs) Black

Ardith Marie (Combs) Black, age 93, of Dallas, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2018. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Monday, February 26, 2018 at Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville. Interment will follow at Restland Cemetery in Gatesville. She was born June 20, 1924 to Robert Adair and Mabel Vora (Coldwell) Combs in the rural community of Ellerville, near Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She was married for 45 years to Joseph Nelson Black, Sr., who passed away in 2006. Mrs. Black earned a B.A. degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where she was elected by the senior class of 1948 as “Most Popular Student on Campus.” After graduation, she lived in Minnesota and Oregon before settling in Dallas, Texas where she worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield and, later, Dixico, Inc. She was a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and traveled across the country establishing Christian Women’s Clubs, as well as Christian Business and Professional Women’s Associations. She and Mr. Black met at Dallas’ First Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Black became active members of Winnetka Bible Church in Oak Cliff and, later, of Faith Bible Church in DeSoto. She is survived by two children, Joseph Nelson Black, Jr. of Irving, Texas, and Jeanne Marie (Black) Blakeslee of Keller, Texas; seven grandchildren; and stepson, Dr. Jim Nelson Black of Arlington, Texas. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.