Roy Glendon Ard

Roy Glendon Ard was born on April 24, 1925 in Drumright, Oklahoma.  He was the son of Dan William and Sylva Estelle (Crouch) Ard.  Roy was raised and attended school in Drumright.   In 1942, Roy accepted a position as a roughneck on a drilling rig working for Taylor Drilling Company of Fairfield, Illinois.  He had developed an interest in the oil business at an early age as his father was a rig builder and had hoped to follow in his father's footsteps.   On April 23, 1943, Roy enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Navy.  After completion of basic training in San Diego, California, Roy attended Landing Craft School (LCS) and was assigned to USS Megrez (AK-126); a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned in World War II and responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.  Boatswain's Mate Second Class Ard was honorably discharged from military service on March 1, 1946 in Norman, Oklahoma.  For his service to his country, Roy was awarded the World War II Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon.   Shortly after returning from his military service, Roy was married to Frances Marie Klein on June 14, 1946 in Drumright, Oklahoma.  The couple moved to Oregon for a short while before returning to Drumright where Roy completed his high school education. The couple then relocated to Okmulgee where Roy started college and later moved to Stillwater; continuing his education and working as Superintendent of farms in Bixby and Stillwater. He was extremely knowledgeable and proficient in the use of pesticides and insecticides in the farming environment.  Roy graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1950.  He then accepted a position with the correctional center in Stringtown which had an Agri-Services program consisting of raising cows and calves and hay production.     The couple then moved back to Drumright for a short time until Roy gained employment with the Soil Conservation Service in Cottonwood, Arizona.  They resided in Clarksdale, Arizona for nearly a year before Roy was promoted and moved to Chandler, Arizona with the Soil Conservation Service.  He continued to work for the Soil Conservation Service for nearly thirty-five years.  During his career, the couple moved to Mesa, Welton, Safford and finally Wilcox where he retired in 1990.  He was involved with a large irrigation project in Yuma, Arizona. While residing in Willcox, Roy was asked to assist with some water and flooding problems occurring in the area and was then elected to serve as vice mayor of Willcox for ten years until 2006.  Roy was an active member of many organizations including Elks Lodge, American Legion, and was a 32nd Degree Mason of Safford, Arizona Lodge 16.  He was also a member of the Methodist Church.  He served in numerous capacities and offices of these organizations.   Roy was an amateur geologist and was considered by many as a rock hound.  He loved silver and turquoise jewelry and collected many rocks he had collected throughout his life.  He enjoyed camping and fishing vacations and especially enjoyed Quartzite Gem and Turquoise shows.  He had a very inquisitive mind and always stayed busy; finding something to do to keep him occupied.  He  also enjoyed making canes and woodworking projects.   Although a resident of Willcox, Arizona, Roy passed away on Monday July 6, 2015, while visiting friends and family near Jennings, Oklahoma, at the age of ninety.  He was preceded in death by his mother Sylva Estelle Ard Crouch; father Dan William Ard; brother Richard Ard; and a son Gregory K. Ard. He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years,  Frances Ard of the home; three sons,  Stephen Ard of Drumright, Oklahoma, Anthony Ard of Hope, Idaho, and Jeffrey Ard of Kennewick, Washington; eleven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.    Cremation was entrusted to the Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland, Oklahoma.  A memorial service will be held at a later date at the First United Methodist Church in Willcox, Arizona.