Velma June Sleem

Fell asleep in the Lord Sunday, March 11, 2012 in Oklahoma City. She was born on October 7th, 1925, in Shattuck, Oklahoma. Velma was raised by immigrant parents, Thomas and Adele Ruffin who made a life for Velma and her 7 brothers and sisters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With a large family and growing up through the depression years, Velma learned the values of faith, family and friendship. As a teenager, she developed a passion for dancing and toured with the USO entertaining troops during WWII. While visiting family in Oklahoma City, she met her future husband Albert Sleem. They were married November 8th, 1953. As their marriage and family grew, their faith and love for God became the primary focus of their lives. Velma was an active member of St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church for 59 years. She served faithfully in many capacities including, teaching Sunday school, singing in the church choir, a member of the Ladies Guild and later in life, the Ladies Aid. The joy of serving God and her community will be her greatest legacy which she passed on to her children and grandchildren. Velma was proceeded in death by her husband, Albert A. Sleem, parents Thomas and Adele Ruffin, brothers, Ned Ruffin, Ted Ruffin and Father Thomas Ruffin and her sisters, Janet Smith, Elizabeth Ford, and Virginia Shadid. She is survived by her sister, Betty Haddad of Cedar Rapids, Iowa sister-in-law Sally Ruffin of Detroit, Michigan and children Michele A. Manning of Portland, Oregon and Michael A. Sleem and Jill Sleem of Oklahoma City, and cherished nephew Ned Shadid and wife Stacy Shadid of Oklahoma City. Her surviving grandchildren were her greatest joy, Mason Manning of Los Angeles, California, Alex Manning of Portland, Oregon, Nick Sleem of Oklahoma City, Kate Sleem of Oklahoma City, Adele Shadid of Oklahoma City, Neddie Shadid of Oklahoma City.Velma passed this earthly life knowing her destiny and was ready to be with the Lord, and to be united with her loving husband and a host of family members. "Well done thou good and faithful servant". Services will be Thursday, March 15th with the Trisaigon at 10:00 a.m. followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church, 15000 N. May Avenue. Internment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park. Officiating Very Reverend Archpriest John Salem and Reverend Father Jeremy Davis.