Ihsan Ardhuerumly

The Reverend Dr. Ihsan Namiq Ardhuerumly was born, the 2nd of 9 children, on September 6, 1932 to Namiq and Fatima Ardhuerumly in Baghdad, Iraq. He departed this earth and entered his eternal rest, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on January 30, 2019. He was 86 years old. Ihsan immigrated to the United States from Iraq at the age of 19 with little more than the American Dream and $300 in his pocket. He enrolled in the University of Indiana where he studied engineering. He later obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of Oklahoma, Masters degrees from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York and Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a Doctorate of Ministry degree, also from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Along the way he met and married Ruth Annalee Hawk, a union that produced 3 beautiful boys. Later, he was to meet and marry the love of his life, Lillith Luella "Layla" Winkler. Ihsan and Lillith had two children together, a daughter and a son. A naturalized citizen of his beloved United States and a proud patriot of his adopted homeland, Ihsan served in the United States Army where he was a member of the Signal Corp and received an Honorable Discharge In 1963. After a nearly 20 year career as a successful corporate executive and engineer, Ihsan felt a call to ministry and entered the clergy ranks of the United Methodist Church, eventually receiving his Ordination as an Elder. He and Lillith, also a minister in the United Methodist Church, served several churches across west Texas before Ihsan was named to the Bishop's Cabinet as a District Superintendent in the Northwest Texas Conference. After many years of ministry, Ihsan and Lillith retired and moved to their little piece of paradise in Lillith's home state of Oklahoma.

Ihsan was preceded in death by his parents, by his beloved wife and partner in ministry, Lillith and by a treasured grandson, Michael Ardhuerumly.

He is survived by his five children, Steve Ardhuerumly and his wife Rita of LaOtto Indiana; Mike Ardhuerumly and his wife Beth of Churubusco, Indiana; Jeff Ardhuerumly of McKinney, Texas; Namiqa Ardhuerumly Shipman and her husband Walt, of Lawton, Oklahoma and Staton Ardhuerumly of Amarillo, Texas. Additionally he is survived by 8 grandchildren and over 20 great grandchildren. And now all of these, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren alike, strive daily to live up to Dr. Ardhuerumly's twin legacies of Courage and Overcoming in the face of adversity.

Dr Ardhuerumly will be interred, following a family only graveside service, at the Mountain Park Cemetery in Mountain Park, Oklahoma February 2, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to either the Salvation Army or your local Food Bank, favorite missions of Dr Ardhuerumly's.