Memorial service for James U. Ard, 84, of Lawton will be at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Bobbie McGarey, interim pastor , First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Mr. Ard died on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 in Lawton.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

James U. Ard was born on February 9, 1924 in Kansas City, Kansas to Owen Campbell and Margaret (Campbell) Ard. He grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and graduated from high school in 1941. He joined the United States Army Ordnance Corp on November 3, 1942 and served in WWII. While serving in the military, James married Bettie Moore on February 19, 1943. After being honorably discharged from the army on February 16, 1946 he began work at General Motors Industries, starting in the Kansas City, Kansas plant and working in many other plants including Atlanta, Georgia, and South Gate, California, where he retired in 1981 after 45 years of service as a production superintendent. While working at General Motors, he received his Master’s Degree in Engineering. He and Mrs. Ard then moved to Ramona, California and then later retired to Sun City West, Arizona. They were avid golfers and Mr. Ard worked in the pro golf shop in Sun City. Mrs. Ard died in August of 2005 and Mr. Ard came to Lawton in August of 2007 to be near his brother and sister in law. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church here and was a member of the Sheppard of the Hills United Methodist Church in Sun City West.

He is survived by his daughter and son in law, Jamee Ard and Paul F. Mueller, of New York, New York; his brother and sister in law, Sam and Jane Ard, of Lawton; and his cousin, Newell Wade Wall and his wife, Barbara, of Pinckney, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Margaret Ard; his wife, Bettie; his daughter, Retta Ard; and his sister, Ann Mulligan.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Giddy Up “N” Go Inc., 7205 SE Bishop, Lawton, Oklahoma 73501 or to the donors choice.