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Phyllis Coble Petersen
Phyllis Coble Petersen residing in Little Rock, Arkansas, departed this life January 9, 2006. She was born in Nowata, Oklahoma on January 13, 1924 to James Lee and Cora Burrows Coble. She is preceded in death by her parents and her only sister Lorraine Coble Combs of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Phyllis graduated from Seminole High School, class of 1941. She was a long time resident of New Orleans where she was a retired real estate agent, avid bridge player, and devoted mother. She will be remembered as a dedicated and loving wife of 60 years who always loved cooking and caring for her family.
She is survived by her husband Case Richard Petersen of Little Rock, Arkansas; a daughter Vicki Petersen Diermann and husband Tommy of Lafayette, Louisiana; a son Ralph Lee Petersen and wife Anne of Little Rock, Arkansas; three grandchildren Natalie, Jessica and Shelby Petersen; one brother James Lee Coble and wife Ann of Houston, Texas.
There will be a family and friends graveside service held Friday, January 13th, at 1:30pm at the Maple Grove cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma, officiated by Reverend Gary Wilburn. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be sent to Hospice Home Care, 2200 South Bowman Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212.
Catherine Couch Remmel
Catherine Couch Remmel of Little Rock, died in her home Tuesday, January 24, 2006. She was born April 22, 1918, at Pine Bluff, Ark., the only daughter of Harvey C. Couch and Jessie Johnson Couch. Her father named Lake Catherine for her when as founding president of Arkansas Light and Power Company (later AP&L), he had Remmel Dam, named for his friend Col. Harmon L. Remmel, built on the Ouachita River to create hydroelectric power for a large part of central and southern Arkansas. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband Pratt Cates Remmel and her four brothers, Johnson Olin Couch, Harvey Crowley (Don) Couch, Jr., Kirke Couch and William Thomas (Bill) Couch.
She attended National Park Seminary near Washington, D.C., graduated from Pine Bluff High School and attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Va., where she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She married
Pratt C. Remmel in Lakeside Methodist Church, Pine Bluff, on June 15, 1940.
Catherine Remmel was a member of the Junior League of Little Rock and was an actively supporting member of both the Arkansas Arts Center and the Little Rock Chapter of Garden Clubs of America. For many years she worked as a volunteer at the Working Woman’s Home in Little Rock.
She is survived by her daughters, Catherine Ellen Remmel Matthews and Rebecca Couch Remmel, and her son, Pratt Cates Remmel, Jr.; three grand-daughters, Catherine Meredith Matthews, Leslie Matthews Thiele and husband Michael, and Hannah Zinnia Remmel; two great-grandchildren, Lukas Pratt Thiele and Lyla Catherine Thiele; four sisters-in-law, Mary Mitchell Couch and husband Harry Shipley, Gertrude Remmel Butler, Jean Purrington Remmel Little and husband William H. FitzSimmons, and Beverly Best Remmel; her brother-in-law Roland Rowe Remmel and wife Ruth Rebsamen Remmel; and her cousin Elizabeth Couch Barthet. The family thanks her faithful caregivers Stephanie Ricks, Tracy Carlock, Felicia Williams, Evelyn Nwachukwu and Dr. K. Morgan Sauer.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 27, at First United Methodist Church, 723 Center, Little Rock, with the Rev. Michael L. Mattox officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family has designated the Dunbar Garden Project (AUGER), c/o Williams Library, 1800 South Chester, Little Rock 72206, the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at CALS, 100 Rock, Little Rock 72201 and the Arkansas Arts Center, P.O. Box 2137, Little Rock 72203 as suggestions for memorials. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Gladys Marie Cook Ritchie
Gladys Marie Cook Ritchie, age 92, of Little Rock, died Saturday, February 18, 2006. She was born in Madill, Oklahoma on May 6, 1913, one of five children born to Henry and Myra Pierce Ritchie.
In college, Gladys met Reeves Ritchie. They were both students at George Washington University and employees of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation but they found they had more in common than school and jobs. As a matter of coincidence, Reeves’ grandmother taught Gladys in school while she was growing up in Madill, Oklahoma. In January of 1936 they were married
in Washington, D.C. and later that year, they moved to Little Rock and Reeves went to work with AP&L. During an interview regarding his retirement, she was quoted as saying, “I think the thing that strikes me most about Reeves is his ability to make decisions. I feel that Reeves has a great sense of responsibility to his community. He’s been active in Civic organizations for years. He enjoys the work or he wouldn’t do it, but I feel the big motivating factor is his desire to do his part. He started out as a helper at the old Little Rock Power Plant and through the years… he’s enjoyed it all!”
Gladys was very deeply devoted to her husband and was supportive of his career at AP&L. They were married
68 years until his death in August 2004.
Mrs. Ritchie was a lifelong member of First Christian Church in Little Rock where she was a member of the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was a member of the Second Friday Book Club, the Country Homes Garden Club, and was a member of the Committee of 100 women established to promote interest in the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Myra Cook; her husband of 68 years, Reeves Ritchie; a daughter, Nancy Ritchie Ogle; sisters Ruth Manson and Mable Meade Sabin; and a brother, Claude Cook.
Survivors include her son, Robert Ritchie and wife Dana of Little Rock; a sister, Ruby Rue Cook of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Pam Wilson of Abilene, Texas, J. Ritchie of Seattle, Washington, Robin McNight of the Woodlands, Texas, and Susan Ritchie of Little Rock; great grandchildren, Sarah Aguirre of Abilene, Texas, Rebecca McNight and Kathryn McNight, both of the Woodlands, Texas.
Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 24 at First Christian Church, 1500 North Mississippi. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church officiated by Reverend Hart Moore. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are J. Ritchie, Mark Linvill, Allen McNight, Greg Wilson, Jim Mulkey, and Charles Moenning.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers may be made to the First Christian Church Endowment Fund, 1500 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock, AR 72207.
Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
George A. Sloan
George A. Sloan, age 94 of Little Rock, died Saturday, February 4, 2006. George was born in Leon, Iowa, the son of the late A.B. and Jennie Sloan. He was predeceased by his wife of 30 years, Vicki Sloan. In the late 1930’s he was employed by a large corporation in the East, selling their products to large shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturers in the southeast United States. In 1949 he established his own manufacturing firm selling their products in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas until 1978, at which time he retired. He was a member of Forest Highland Baptist Church, a member of American Association of Retired Persons and of the Lost Chord Club of Central Arkansas.
George is survived by his companion of 26 years, Wanda Nixon of Little Rock, 2 nephews and 4 nieces.
There will be a funeral service today, Wednesday, February 8th, at 2 P.M. at the Ruebel Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Reverend Johnny Jackson. Burial will follow at the Pine Crest Mausoleum. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy “Jay” Kellensworth, Charlie Williamson, Jimmy, Billy and Mark Taylor, and Mike Johnson, all members of the Lost Chord Club of the American Cancer Society.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Firefighters Memorial, P.O. Box 56470, Little Rock, 72205.
Robert Dean Smith, IV
Robert Dean Smith, IV, of Little Rock, and a resident of the Conway Human Development Center, died Saturday, April 1, 2006. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas the son of Robert and Susan Cosmus Smith of Little Rock.
Bert is also survived by a sister, Paige Cox and her children Ivy and Judd Cox all of Little Rock, a brother Richard Smith of Little Rock, 2 uncles Judge Van Smith and his wife Cathy of Little Rock, Richard H. Smith and wife Nancy of Hot Springs, Arkansas and an aunt, Cynthia Winburn of Safety Harbor, Florida.
The family wishes to express it’s deep gratitude to the staff of the Human Development Center for the loving care and friendship it has given Bert over the past 32 years.
There was a private graveside service held. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to the Family and Friends of Care Facility Residence, 1802 Berry Place Drive, Conway, Arkansas 72032, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 7509 Cantrell Road Suite 100, Little Rock, 72207.
Sara Mercier Smith
Sara Mercier Smith of Little Rock passed away Thursday February 9, 2006 at University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital. She was born March 30, 1940. Proudly reared in Summit, Mississippi, Sara graduated from University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Sara worked for University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in the Intensive Care Nursery as a Medical Technologist for over 20 years.
Her courage and bravery was an inspiration not only to fellow cancer survivors, but to everyone who knew her. Sara lived every day of her life to the fullest, sharing her faith, wit, and wisdom with all of those around her. Sara leaves us a legacy of how to enjoy life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Enos Mercier and Eva Ester Givens Mercier. She is survived by Alec, her devoted husband of 43 years, two sons and their wives: Bobby and Elizabeth, William and Sara, and four granddaughters: Emerson, Claudia, Maggie, and Sara Cate. She is also survived by her twin sister: Jane Mercier Lynn of Moss Point, Mississippi and her husband Frank and their children, Amanda, Frank, Jr., Mary Ann, John Enos, and David, and nine great-nieces and great-nephews and her dog Jezi.
She will be dearly missed and well remembered by her family, and many friends including those in Questers Antique Club of which she was a charter member, Faithful Friends Support Group, Pulaski Heights Cancer Friends, Evening Circle at St. James Methodist Church, Bible Study and the Wine Coolers Book Club. She was a member of St. James Methodist church where she was selected UMW woman of the year, TWICE.
Visitation will be held 5-7pm Sunday February 12 at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205 .The funeral service will be held Monday February 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James United Methodist Church (insert address). Burial will follow at Roselawn cemetery. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Cancer Research Center.
Sara and her family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Laura Hutchins, the medical oncology clinic, and the staff at UAMS.
Live on, live on child, until you come home.
Helen Marie Jefferies Thomas
Helen Marie Jefferies Thomas, age 88, of Little Rock, devoted wife for 70 years of Henry Ash Thomas, departed this life on March 29, 2006. Helen was born December 6, 1917 to the late Frances and James Jefferies, and predeceased by 2 brothers and 2 sisters. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her husband, daughters Kathy Thomas Douglas and Laura Jane Thomas Lyon, five grandchildren; Steven Davis, Deborah Davis, Karen Bailey, Ashley Jackson, and Laura Hamilton, and 7 great-grandchildren.
There will be a graveside service 11am Friday at Roselawn Memorial Park. Following services the family will receive friends at 18800 Cantrell Road. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the Reynolds Center on Aging or Arkansas Hospice.
Virginia C. "Ginger" Tuck
Mrs. Virginia C. “Ginger” Tuck, 61, Little Rock, passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2006 of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare, degenerative brain disorder. She was born December 18, 1944, at Shreveport, LA the daughter of the late Ralph “Bruz” Hamner and Elizabeth C. Hamner of Bradley, Arkansas. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Henry L Tuck III; daughter Carey Mathis and husband Kenny of Nashville, TN; son, Brent Tuck of Colorado Springs, CO; brother, Ralph Hamner and wife Carol of NLR; and 2 grandchildren, Preston and Sydney Mathis and sister-in-law Tess Gibbs of Fayetteville. Ginger graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Cum Laude, Mortar Board, Women’s Recreational Association Executive Board, Kappa Delta Pi, with a B.S. in Education in 1966 and was selected as a member of Who’s Who In American Colleges and Universities. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Ginger attained a Masters of Education in Adapted Physical Education from UALR in 1985 and received the Dean's Citation for Excellence. She was a teacher at Hall High School and Forest Heights Elementary School in Little Rock. She also was a volunteer at the State Special Olympics and United Cerebral Palsy Games and the Arkansas Literacy Council. Her heart was always with those who were disadvantaged.
Ginger’s life was one of always putting everyone else first. She constantly sought to make her husband, children, grandchildren and friends’ lives more meaningful and complete. She was a dedicated teacher and supporter. Ginger really came alive and was in a zone while playing her favorite sport, basketball. She was an All State Girls Basketball player at Bradley High School and was one of the founders and a coach of one of the “Silver Streaks” basketball program team in Little Rock. Her love of basketball is also reflected in her coaching basketball at West Fork, Holy Souls Catholic School, Little Rock and being a member of the Arkansas Official’s Association as a basketball Official/referee and as well as being a big fan of the Arkansas Women’s and Men’s basketball teams. She was an avid runner participating in many local races. She also loved traveling with her husband and friends through out the US and overseas. .
Vigil Service will be Friday at 7:00 PM with visitation starting at 5:30 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 400 North Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock Funeral Services/Mass will also be at Christ the King, Saturday at 10:00 AM followed by burial in Calvary cemetery. A reception will follow.
Memorials should be made to Our House, “Shelter for the Homeless”, 300 East Roosevelt Rd, Little Rock, AR 72206 or the Helping Hand, 1601 Marshall St, Little Rock, AR 72202.
Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Ralph A. "Pat" Walsh
Ralph A. "PAT " Walsh age 73, of Little Rock, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma April 4th, 1932 the only child of the late Ralph A. " PAT " Walsh and Mary Phyllis Proffitt Walsh. The Family moved to Tulsa Oklahoma in 1933 and then to Little Rock in 1935. He was educated in the Little Rock Public Schools and also attended Brown Military Academy of the Ozarks, and graduated from Little Rock Senior High School in 1950. He attended Little Rock Junior College, University of Oklahoma, University of Alabama and University Of Arkansas. He started out as a Journalism Major and finished with a double major in History and Political Science.
Mr. Walsh married
Bobbie Jean Hill then of Pine Bluff in May of 1958. He is survived by, Bobbie Jean Hill Walsh, and their three children, Mary Margaret (Missy) Walsh Marshall and husband Benjamin Franklin Marshall IV of Sikeston MO., Ralph A. "PAT" Walsh III of Benton AR., Amy Eloise Walsh Sandefur and husband Bob Sandefur of Little Rock; Four grandchildren, Benjamin Franklin Marshall V and Aidan Miranda Marshall of Sikeston MO., Ralph A. ( "Brack " ) Walsh IV of Benton, AR., Bethany Walsh Maxwell of Jacksonville, Fl. Two step grandchildren Daniel Sandefur and Shane Sandefur of Little Rock, one great- grand child, Charles Terrell Maxwell of Jacksonville, Fl. Additional survivors include Susan Walsh of AR., Rosemari Brooks Jones of Hot Springs, William Jones III of Poplarville, MS., Craig Jones of Minneapolis, MN.
During Junior High, High School and College Pat worked in even numbered summers for political candidates traveling the entire State of Arkansas and developed a true love of local media and local area politics and how the two worked, sometimes together and sometimes at cross purposes. After college, Pat served his country for 6 years in the U S Army Reserve and 2 years active duty with 19 months of that time stationed in Germany.
Pat was a station manager of KAAY Radio and Vice President of LIN Broadcasting, radio station manager and Vice President of Group Owner Multi Media Radio Inc., Vice President and regional Manager of Group Owner Quest Media. In 1960 he opened the Opportunity Group to handle placement of political advertising on radio and television stations. Later, Pat redirected the corporation toward offering consulting services to broadcasters and newspapers, as well as serving as a specialized advertising agency in politics and placement of religious programs. After Leaving Multi Media and KAAY radio in 1976 he continued media consulting serving clients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and several other states.
Pat served on the Board and as Chairman of the Board of Deacons of the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, was a twenty-five year member of Sales and Marketing Executives International in Little Rock and a Life Member and former President of the Arkansas Advertising Federation. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Little Rock Central YMCA, the Arkansas Better Business Bureau, the Arkansas Broadcasters Association and the National Radio Broadcasters Association and several other trade and civic organizations.
A passionate lifetime interest in politics and the media brought about contacts and connections too numerous to mention but provided a full plate of fun and excitement. Retirement in 2000 may have brought about a personal change but not a change in his interest in the industry or in politics.
A visitation will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home this evening from 5 – 7:00 PM. A celebration of Pat’s Life will be held at 1:00 on Tuesday in the chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home with Rev. Doyn Sandafur officiating. Burial will be private.
Memorials may be made to Camp Aldersgate, 2000 Aldersgate Rd. Little Rock, AR. 72205 and The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St. Little Rock, AR. 72201, under the project, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
Julia Brown Whetstone
Julie Brown Whetstone, age 48, died Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at her home in Little Rock. Born July 17, 1957 to Dorothy Jean (“Dot”) and John Ed Brown, she graduated from McClellan High School and attended University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She worked 18 years as the legal administrator for the Whetstone Law Firm and is past president of the Association for Legal Administrators (ALA).
Julie is survived by her husband, Bud Whetstone of Little Rock, her father, John Ed Brown of Clinton, her sister, Laurel Brown, of Nashville, TN, her stepdaughter, Lee Whetstone of Little Rock, her sisters of the heart, Evelyn Menz, Vicki Kovaleski, and M.J. Griffin, Maria Kennedy who lovingly cared for her and her home, her aunt, Dorothy Brown, uncle, Joe Brown, cousins, close friends and her dogs, Molly and Jake. She is preceded in death by her mother Dot Brown and her stepson, Dalton Whetstone. Julie will be greatly missed for her gentleness, compassion, wisdom and humor.
Family and close friends thank Drs. Dana Abraham, Larry Mendelson, Scott Stern, Reed Thompson and Bud Hyde for their compassionate care for Julie during her battle with breast cancer and thank hospice nurse Jan McRaven for her very tender and loving care. Friends will be received at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham Street, from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Wednesday, March 1. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 2 at 1:00pm at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 South Louisiana Street, Little Rock, Reverend Betsy Singleton officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Dalton Whetstone Boys and Girls Club, 46 Harrow Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72209 or to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 West 12st St., Little Rock, AR, 72204 or Little Rock Animal Services, 3800 South Chester, Little Rock, AR 72206.
