Obituary of Robert Ardis

Robert B. Ardis died September 7, 2012, at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital, Sulphur Springs, Texas. He was born November 9, 1929, in Sulphur Springs, the son of Abel Boyet and Marie Harris Ardis. He was the grandson of Henry Love and Mattie Pate Ardis, and John Thomas and Bonnie Bell Connor Harris; the great grandson of John Wilson and Sara Wester Pate and Joseph Wright and Susan Elizabeth Hopkins Connor; and, the great great-grandson of David and Anna Hargrave Hopkins – all founders of Sulphur Bluff and Sulphur Springs. Mr. Ardis married Laura Womack Norsworthy July 24, 1990, in Stirling, Scotland, and she survives. He is also survived by one daughter, Rhonda (Phil) Brady and granddaughter, Rachel; brothers, Harris (Patsy) Ardis, Joe (Ann) Ardis, and sister Mary McMillan; stepchildren, Robert (Nilofer) Norsworthy and sons Elliot and Azle, John Norsworthy, Daphne (John) Hyatt and children Dean and Lily, and Connie (Jim) Westbrook and daughter Lauren (Clint) Ashlock. He also leaves behind his beloved creatures – cat, Noel, and dog, Candide. Mr. Ardis was a 1947 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, where he was president of the National Honor Society. He attended SMU for two years and was a 1951 graduate of TAMU – Commerce. After teaching one year at Austin and Houston elementary schools he was inducted in the U. S. Army, serving in Counter Intelligence at Tokyo, Sendai and Kumagaya, Japan, learning to speak and write Japanese. He was a graduate of University of Tulsa Law School and practiced law in Oklahoma before he was admitted to the State Bar of Texas and practicing law in Sulphur Springs. He was a member of The International Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi, State Bar of Texas, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and Experimental Aircraft Association. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, a city councilman and “frequent flyer”. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Debbie Riggsby and James Diamond officiating. Interment will follow at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery with Bill Ardis, Jay Frizzell, Mark Guest, Mike Warren, John Norsworthy and Robert Norsworthy serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 8, 2012 at West Oaks Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com