Ardon H. Birdsong

Ardon was born June 12, 1939 in Ellsworth, Kansas where he was happily welcomed by his parents, Homer and Ione Sanders Birdsong, and grandparents (maternal) William and Myrtle Sanders, and uncle Jack Sanders. Ardon had two sisters, Vonda Lee and Linda Kay, whom he was so proud of and loved very much. Ardon’s dad was employed by an oil company and so the family was often on the move. After an injury to his back, the family reunited with the grandparents on their farm in Mexico, Missouri. The time spent on the farm provided many happy memories for Ardon. The one room schoolhouse and teacher, Miss Juliette Huland, provided for Ardon the solid foundation and inspiration for his own success in that field! Ardon loved teaching and spent too many hours writing his own labs, his own tests, studying for the daily presentation of the lessons and grading papers. He was genuinely interested in his students. Ardon worked at Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville where he met and became friends with (who turned out to be his future brother-in-law), Richard Cotner. Ardon’s sister, Linda Kay, was during that time, attending business school where she also met and became friends with someone who turned out to be her future sister-in-law, Sue Cotner, the sister of Richard. Ardon and Sue married in September 1966, and have four children, Bryan, Becky, Brent (deceased) and Brett of whom they are very proud. Ardon was very proud of each of his “kids” talents and capabilities and missed them deeply. He also loved his grandchildren – Jonathan Giddens, son of Becky and George Giddens, Jacob and Kyle Birdsong, children of Brett Birdsong and Abigail Ardon and baby Denver Birdsong, daughters of Bryan and Wendy Birdsong. He loved his father and mother-in-law, Carrell and Lucille Cotner and brothers and sisters-in-law: Richard and Linday Kay Cotner, Jim Cotner, Jerry and Linda J. Merkle and Bob G. Chadwick of Cabot, Arkansas and all of the nephews and nieces. Ardon and Sue achieved 50 years of marriage, September 30, 2016. Ardon enjoyed and loved each member of his ‘married into family’ and felt he had been blessed to have had their companionship as well as that of his wifes’ and childrens’ along his life journey. Ardon was a solid believer and admirer of the awesomeness of God, his creator and The Creator of all things. He looked forward to the day he would be able to hear the answers to the many questions he wanted to ask: How did you do that? What are the components? What is the equation for it? and so on and on. With Ardon’s new (not repaired, but NEW) brain, I believe he and God’s technical advisors are going to be busy for quite a while! Go to it Ardon! I can truly rejoice in the thought of your brain being turned on again. Not just a receptacle for strokes and seizures! Ardon’s teaching career covered: Kansas Technical Institute, Salina, Kansas, Paris Junior College, Paris, Texas, Oral Roberts University – Microbiology Dept., Tulsa, Oklahoma, Claremore Junior College, Claremore, Oklahoma, Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa Lemley Campus and Tulsa Technology Center, Jenks Campus. Ardon was preceded in death by his: parents, Homer and Ione Birdsong; grandparents, William and Myrtle Sanders; sister, Vonda Lee Chadwick; niece, Debbie Chadwick; uncle, Jack Sanders; little son, Brent Birdsong and father-in-law, Carrell Cotner. Visitation: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017, Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017, Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel Interment: Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500

Ardon H. Birdsong

June 12, 1939 - March 2, 2017