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Dr. Ralph Aaron Downs
Ralph Aaron Downs, M.D. age 87, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006.
He was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and graduated from Parsonsfield Seminary, in Maine. He returned to Arkansas where he attended Hendrix College 1938 to 1941 before receiving his B.S. from Tulane University, New Orleans, 1941-1942. He later received his M.D. from Tulane School of Medicine in Urology in 1945. He did his internship at Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 1945-46, before completing his residency at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. After his schooling Ralph served in the U. S. Navy Medical Corp from 1946-1948. After the war he started his Urology Practice at St. Edwards Hospital, Fort Smith, Arkansas for 10 years. He then moved to Little Rock where he had staff membership at St. Vincent Infirmary, Baptist Medical Center, and Doctor’s Hospital before his retirement in 1988. Ralph was a member of the American Board of Urology, the American Urological Association, once serving as president of the South Central Section of the American Urological Association, Society of Pediatric Urology, Pan Pacific Surgeons Association, Societe Internationale d”Urologie, American College of Surgeons, Arkansas Urological Association, Arkansas Medical Society, and the Pulaski County Medical Society.
Ralph is pre-deceased by a son, James Andrew Downs who died in 1992. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Margery Hare Downs of Little Rock, three sons; Ralph Aaron Downs, III of Little Rock, John G. Downs and wife Jessica of Denver, Colorado, Richard J. Downs and wife Jana of Prague, Czech Republic, two step-daughters; Cindy Wage and husband Olin of Little Rock, Susan Penick and husband Carroll of Little Rock, and ten grandchildren; Charlotte, Martine, Ralph, Chirstopher, Jackson, and Lydia Downs, Aaron and Robert Wage, and Frances and Sarah Penick.
There will be a memorial service at 11am Friday March 24th, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church officiated by The Reverend Rocki Profitt. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flower memorials should be made to St. Vincent Infirmary, 6101 St. Vincent Circle, Little Rock 72205 or a charity of choice.
John Benton "Tony" Dyke, Sr.
John Benton “Tony” Dyke, Sr., passed away at his home Monday, April 3, 2006. He was a graduate of engineering school at the University of Arkansas where he was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and voted True Gentleman by his Fraternity. He was a YMCA Football Coach, Vestry member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral School board member.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Johnson Dyke; his son, John Benton “J” Dyke, Jr. and his life partner, Garry Mertins; his daughter, Allison Dyke Pickell and her husband, Slocum Pickell; his grandchildren, Ashton Pickell and Alexandra Pickell; his brother, James T. Dyke and his wife Helen Porter; and his nieces and nephews, Merritt Dyke, Simmons Kirkpatrick, Robert Finch, Greg Dyke, James T. Dyke, Jr., Jonathan Dyke, Frank Dyke, Diane Williams and Stephen Dyke. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank Parke Dyke.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
The family requests donations are made in lieu of flowers to Heifer International, The Cradle Society of Evanston, Illinois, Potluck Food Rescue, and The Arkansas Arts Center, Trinity Cathedral or the charity of your choice.
Carter Stanley Finch
Carter Stanley Finch, 21, was born May 24, 1984 and died April 17, 2006. He was a student at Pulaski County Vo-tech, had attended Lutheran High and Hall High in Little Rock, and was a graduate of Job Corps at Cass, AR. Carter was a big, beautiful boy with a big, beautiful heart. He had a rare, gentle and compassionate soul and a loving nature that endeared him to everyone who came to know him. Quick with a smile and always ready to help others, he had deep appreciation for his family, and loved spending time in the beautiful wild outdoor places of Arkansas. He was extremely fond of animals and children, and loved playing his bass guitar.
He is survived and sorely missed by his father, Charles Richard Finch; mother, Vicki Lynn Jett; half-brother, Richard Lee Finch; grandparents, Mary Finch, Glenn and Betty Jett; niece, Keeley Finch; nephew, Cole Finch; aunts and uncles, Glennda and Alan Porbeck, Tammy and Jimmy Helmick, David and Paula Finch, all of Little Rock, and Brenda Thomas of Sacramento, CA; cousins, Nathaniel Finch, David Porbeck, Jason Porbeck, Steven Helmick, Justin Helmick, all of Little Rock, Melissa Reynolds of Sacramento, CA, and Jessie Thomas of Charleston, SC.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 21, at 11:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1818 Reservoir Road, Little Rock.
The family extends their sincere appreciation for the kind words and actions of all of those who loved Carter and whose lives were touched by his existence.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pulaski County Humane Society or ARORA.
Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Walter H. Funk
Walter H. Funk, 94, of Little Rock passed away on Wednesday, January 18. He was born in Little Rock to John and Louise Reck Funk. He was a graduate of Little Rock High School and attended night classes at the old Arkansas Law School and passed the Arkansas State Bar exam. He was with Mobil Oil Corp. for forty years and retired in 1970 as Arkansas Operating Manager. Walter and Jody Pinckney were married
on January 23, 1935. He and Jody were charter members of Christ Lutheran Church where he served as treasurer for thirty-three consecutive years at First Lutheran and Christ Lutheran Churches . He also served as treasurer of the Leawood Crime Watch Association and the Gene Schild Scholarship Foundation.
Walter is survived by his wife, Jody, two daughters, Mariann Richards, of Little Rock, and Janis Polychron and husband Chris of Hot Springs, five grandchildren, Jimmy Richards, Walter Ray Richards, Rob Richards, Natalie Polychron and Nikki Polychron Young, five great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
The family will receive friends at #7 Highwood from 5-7:00p.m. Friday.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church by Rev. Donald Porter. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Gene Schild Scholarship Fund c/o Christ Lutheran Church, 315 S. Hughes, Little Rock, AR 72205. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Barbara Beth Ayres Gillman
Barbara Beth Ayres Gillman, age 89, of Jacksonville formerly of Little Rock, died Monday, April 17, 2006. She was born in Paola, KS on May 31, 1916 to the late Robert and Beth Marly Ayres. Barbara was a member of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church until 2003 when she moved to Jacksonville and joined the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville.
She entered college when she was 59 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from UALR in 1979 at the age of 63. She was appointed Ombudsman for the State Nursing Home Regulatory Board and was a member of the State Silver Haired Legislature. She was also a member of the Sweet Adelines and attended Former President Bill Clinton’s first Inaugural Ball.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Karl W. Gillman and her son Daryl Karl Gillman. She is survived by her daughter, Dixie Buchanan and husband James “Buck” of Cabot, her son, David Gillman and wife Lisa of Tulsa, OK, Grandchildren, Barbara Beth Buchanan of Mustang, OK William Karl Buchanan and wife Cassandra of Spring, TX, Bree Holbrook and husband Jordan of Memphis, TN, Chase Gillman of York, PA, and Kailey Gillman of Tulsa, OK, great grandchildren, Kristen and Jacob Buchanan.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening between 6 -8 PM at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville with Rev. David Dyer officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville.
Daniel A. Green
DANIEL A. GREEN, 54, of Little Rock, who died January 12, will be remembered at a service at 1 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 25) at Ruebel Funeral Home at 6313 West Markham Street in Little Rock. (Rev. Ken Shaddox of the First Baptist Church in Searcy will officiate.)
Green, the son of the late Glenn A. (Bud) Green and Julia Stell Green, formerly of Little Rock and now living in Searcy, was born September 27, 1951 in Searcy, one of three brothers and a sister, and attended schools there and in Little Rock, Heber Springs and Montgomery County, Md.; he later studied electronics at an institute in Little Rock.
He was a heavy equipment operator, considered a master in the back hoe, and participated in construction throughout the state, including work at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, the widening of Kanis Road in Little Rock, and the building of homes in Midland, Tex. He earlier promoted a musical rock band in California, developed and sold audio speakers and was a partner in a restaurant in downtown Little Rock; he also was a woodworker who helped build cabinets and decks in homes and bars in restaurants.
A spiritual, easygoing man who ate mainly organic food and had a hearty, infectious laugh, he is remembered by family and friends as kind, loving, caring, and honest. A friend who said Green and his mother had helped him said, “I consider Dan my brother.”
He was devoted to his mother and daughter, Jessica Green of Little Rock, and her son Keilan, and delivered much personal care to his mother, now 93, in her home in recent years. He was happy about re-establishing a relationship with Thresa (Tree) Scott of Hot Springs, whom he had known in high school and who described him as “a noble man” who brought her much joy and who, in his last days, acted courageously to help his daughter. (He and a friend, Stephen Craig, 50, were fatally shot in the home in the early morning; Anthony Terrell Johnson, 26, of North Little Rock, who Green’s daughter had sought protection from, was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder; he was being held without bond.)
Green liked to read and listen to the talk radio and discuss politics, government and current events; he loved all kinds of music, from Celtic (he was of Scotch-Irish descent) to hard rock to that of Bob Dylan, whom he and friends had seen perform in Little Rock recently. He taught himself to play acoustic guitar, and liked to play it and sing Eagles songs. He loved animals, had bred dogs and had dogs and a cat.
Other survivors are a sister, Suzy Hartsfield of Searcy, and a brother, William Green of Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Pulaski County.
Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Peter Aaron "Pete" Clay Hatfield
Peter (Pete) Aaron Clay Hatfield, 36, of Little Rock, died on Friday, January 20, 2006. Pete was born September 1, 1969 in Blytheville, Arkansas. He graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1988. Pete had an affinity for fast cars and Cardinal baseball. His love for both was immediately evident on seeing his car, or listening to him proselytize for the Cards. But Pete was first and foremost dedicated to the ones he loved. He was a caring partner, a loving son, a favorite Uncle, a best friend and the consummate big brother. He is remembered with love and affection by everyone who knew him.
Survivors include his mother, Paula Hatfield of Little Rock; his father, Ronny Clay of Destin, Florida and wife Patricia; sister Jennifer Pannel and husband Blake and their children Adrian and Jake of Searcy; his beloved brother and best friend Andrew Hatfield and wife Missa, and his two wonderful nieces who loved him so much, Ellaina and Blair, all of Conway; his lifetime dad Don Hatfield and wife Marilyn, of Little Rock; his special friend and companion for thirteen years, Boots Ferguson, also of Little Rock; and his aunts and uncles and cousins and friends from around the country. The family would like to thank his work family at Riverside Acura, of whom he spoke with high regard.
There will a memorial service for family and close friends at 11am Tuesday, January 24, at the Ruebel Funeral Home chapel. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
Remembrances should be made to the Peter Hatfield Memorial Fund, University of Arkansas for Medical Science # 554, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.
Thank you, Pete, for all the good warm memories. Rest in Peace.
Randolph Joseph "Joe" Jackson
Randolph Joseph “Joe” Jackson, age 20 of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, January 17th, 2006. He was born in Little Rock the son of the late Randolph Jackson, Sr., and his mother Rita Sterley. Joe was an outstanding young man who graduated from Little Rock Central High School where he excelled in football playing defensive end. He was also a cadet in the Air Force R.O.T.C. at school. He was a member of the Cathedral of St. Andrew Catholic Church.
Joe is survived by 2 brothers; Sgt. Edric Wyatt and wife Eshe of Stuttgart, Germany, Sgt. Sedrick Wyatt and wife Crystal of Quantico, Virginia, and 1 sister Sherita Jackson of Little Rock, maternal grandmother, Helen Sterley of Little Rock, paternal grandmother, Ida Mae Jackson of Little Rock, and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a Rosary recited Friday at 7pm at the Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel followed Saturday with Mass of Christian burial at 10am at St. Andrews Cathedral officiated by Monsignor Francis Malone. Burial will follow at Rest in Peace cemetery, Hensley, Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Dorothy Buie Jones Jennings
Dorothy Buie Jones Jennings died early Thursday morning. She was born in Little Rock, the only child of Eugene Clarence and Ann Arlone Buie Jones. She graduated from Little Rock High School (now Central High) and Little Rock Junior College (now UALR), and attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi.
She married
Alston Jennings in June of 1943 and traveled with him across the country as he gathered his Navy flight crew in preparation for going overseas. He died in January 2004. She spoke fondly of their time in Corpus Christi, Texas and San Jose, California. They spent the balance of their 61 year marriage in Little Rock, traveling extensively in connection with his career in trial law.
She was past president of the Little Rock Garden Club, sustaining member of the Junior League of Little Rock, past president of the Friends of the Little Rock Public Library, an early supporter of the Arkansas Arts Center and chairman of the first grounds committee of the Museum of Decorative Arts. In 1958, she participated in the Women’s Emergency Committee to reopen the public schools in Little Rock after the Central High crisis. Later, when her children were in school, she spent years as an active Volunteer in Public Schools. During the Vietnam era, she was an active pacifist, outspoken in her opposition to the war and proud of her commitment to the peace movement and the moratorium of October 1969.
Fiercely loyal to her family and devoted to her friends, Dot was a person of commitment and intensity. She was an avid reader, fascinated by words, their meanings and impact. She considered herself a seeker, intensely interested in matters of the spirit, and she read widely and deeply in this field. She will be remembered for her hospitality, her love of cooking and fine food, her rapier-like wit and her finely honed sense of humor. She enjoyed immensely the company of her family.
She is survived by sons Charles Alston Jennings, Jr. (Margaret), and Eugene Franklin Jennings (Nancy), and daughter Ann Buie Jennings Shackelford (Craig), and six grandchildren, Laura Yates Jennings, Franklin Clark Jennings, William Read Jennings, Samuel Wilson Shackelford, Ann Alston Devany Shackelford and Bland Devany Shackelford.
The family will be at 1801 North Beechwood on Friday evening from 5:00 until 7:00. Services will be private. Memorials may be made to the public library or the Garden Club of America.
