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Clayton John Wells
Clayton John Wells, age 83, consulting Geologist and long time resident of Little Rock, died Saturday, December 13, 2003. Mr. Wells was a graduate of Mississippi State University, a registered professional geologist and former District Geologist of the Little Rock District Corps of Engineers. He was involved in the siting, explorations, and development of rock foundations of most of the dams White and Arkansas Rivers. As a consulting Geologist, after retirement form the Corp of Engineers, he performed foundation and safety inspections of new federal dams throughout Arkansas Missouri and Oklahoma. He was a member of the American Society of Engineering Geologists, a member of Registered Professional Geologists, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He was a retired Major in the Army Reserves, and a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, receiving the Bronze Star for combat action as a platoon commander.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Wells He is survived by two sons; Phillip John Wells of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Clayton Craig Wells of Tulsa, Oklahoma, four grandchildren; Patrick and Adam Wells of Little Rock, and Kevin Wells of Minneapolis, MN and Robert Wells of Jonesboro.
There will be a visitation at Ruebel Funeral Home Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Patrick Murray officiating. Burial will follow services with full military honors at the Arkansas State Veteran's cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Governor Frank D. White
Former Arkansas Governor Frank D. White, 69, of Little Rock, born on June 4, 1933 in Texarkana, TX, died on May 21, at his home in Little Rock. He will be remembered as a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, leader and friend. His smile, voice and heart were larger than the man. He generated laughter and good will with every person he touched and was selfless in his donation of time and efforts for charity.
Born in Texarkana, Texas, he was the son of the late Ida Clark Kyle and the late Durward Kyle and was adopted by Mr. Loftin White after his father's death when Frank was a young boy. His adoptive father passed away when Frank was 14. He was also preceded in death by his sister Lady Maude Dalton.
Frank White grew up in Texarkana, and received his high school diploma from the New Mexico Military Institute during his high school years. After attending Texas A&M for one year, he was appointed by U.S. Sen. John McClellan to the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned into the United States Air Force upon graduation from Annapolis. He flew C-130s during his military career and later was a major supporter of Little Rock Air Force Base. After five years of service in the Air Force, he moved in 1961 to Little Rock and began his financial services and banking career with Merrill Lynch and Commercial National Bank. In 1975, Governor David Pryor appointed him to the Governor's Cabinet as director of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, AIDC. White promoted the State's economy and opened Arkansas' first international office in Brussels, Belgium, during his AIDC tenure. Returning to the private sector in 1977, he became president of Capital Savings & Loan, resigning in 1980 from that position to successfully run for Governor of Arkansas. In a major upset victory, White defeated then-incumbent Bill Clinton. During his two-year term in office, he focused his efforts on initiating business practices in state government, highlighted the vocational/technical education system, and promoted economic development through trips across the U.S. and to Japan in efforts to recruit new business and expand existing business in the state. He was instrumental in forming the partnership between UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital, now recognized worldwide as leading medical research and care facilities.
He returned to the private sector in 1983, joining Stephens, Inc., an investment banking firm. After unsuccessful 1986 bid for Governor, he worked for First Commercial Bank in Little Rock until Governor Mike Huckabee appointed him State Banking Commissioner in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was an active and respected Banking Commissioner, visiting every state chartered bank in Arkansas, shortly after his appointment.
He was devoted to community and civic leadership for more than 40 years, serving as president of the Arkansas Jaycees, president of the Little Rock Downtown Rotary Club 99, and on the Boards of Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Little Rock Port Authority, Baptist Hospital Foundation and many others. A popular emcee for special events, he was a catalyst for successful fundraising events benefiting charitable organizations such as Easter Seals and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Last July, he joined Governor Huckabee and six other former Governors for an unprecedented event to benefit the Governor's Mansion. His humor and candor was a major highlight for the standing room only event.
He is survived by his wife, Gay, daughters, Elizabeth White and Rebecca Chavez of Portland, Oregon, son Kyle and daughter-in-law Kelly White of Burke, Virginia, and four grandchildren, Tristan, Tyler, Julia White of Burke, Virginia, and Daniella Chavez of Portland, Oregon.
He will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m. at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock with burial following at Mount Holly cemetery under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to
Family Life, 3900 N. Rodney Parham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212; or
Special Fund, Fellowship Bible Church, 12601 Hinson Road, Little Rock, AR 72212; or
Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, 4301 West Markham Street #748, Little Rock, AR 72205; or
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR 72202; or
Baptist Hospital Foundation, 9601 Interstate 630, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Helen Winter Wilfong
Helen Winter Wilfong, “Nanny”, 72, of Bryant, Arkansas, went to a very special place where there will be no pain for her any longer, on Monday, March 3, 2003 at Baptist Medical Center. She was born in Mississippi on May 2, 1930, moving to Arkansas in 1957. She was retired from the office of Dr. John Butler, DDS. Helen leaves behind two daughters, Carolyn Baxter of Bryant and Brenda Davis of Sheridan, four grandchildren, Toni Vanderwalker of Collinsville, OK, Shane Jobe of Hensley, AR, Jessie and Haley Wilfong of Benton, three great-grandchildren and three stepsons. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, two brothers, and a very special granddaughter Kimberly Hughes. Also known as “Ms. Helen” to so many people, she will be missed tremendously as a friend, teacher, listener and overall someone that cared for everyone she met. A visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Ruebel Funeral Home followed by funeral services at the Ruebel Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday with burial to follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park.
Odette Jenkins Lee Woodson
Odette Jenkins Lee Woodson, age 89, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, July 2, 2003. She was born in Beebe, Arkansas March 10th, 1914, youngest daughter of John R. Jenkins and Flora Belle Kelley. A pioneer key-punch operator Ford Bacon and Davis and the Veteran's Administration Regional Office and Hospital, retiring in 1996 after 30 years of service with the V.A. She was a member of Highland Valley Methodist Church for over 60 years, a charter member of the Fideles Sunday School Class, United Methodist Women and numerous circles. She was a member of the Acropolis and Bicentennial Charters of the ABWA.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husbands, Smith M. Lee in 1965 and Melbourne E. Woodson in 1971, brothers Vollie and Benny Jenkins; sisters, Lucy Rogers, Alice Jenkins and Helen Wilkerson. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Lee Stephens of Little Rock, 3 nieces Sue Wiseman of Searcy, Barbara Nowlin of California, Loretta Chandler of North Little Rock, a nephew Charles Rogers of California, one grandson, William M. Helms, Jr. of Little Rock, granddaughters Sarah Helms Piwonka and husband Max of Memphis, Lee Anne Helms, of Little Rock, six great-grandchildren, Beth, Trey and Ben Helms, and Emily, Megan and Mallory Piwonka. There will be a graveside memorial service Thursday, July 3rd, at 2 pm at Pine Crest cemetery officiated by The Reverend Peggy Bosmeyer. Arrangements are under direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church Alter Guild urn fund and Highland Valley United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the daughter's home following services.
Lucinda Elizabeth Blakely Forgy
Lucinda Elizabeth Blakely Forgy, age 77, of Little Rock, died Sunday, May 18, 2003. Born in Little Rock she graduated from Little Rock High School before graduating from the University of Texas, in Austin, with a degree in Sociology. After college she married
John Forgy who died in 2000. They loved traveling and being with their children and grandchildren. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church where she enjoyed volunteering in the church library.
She is survived by a brother, Rupert M. Blakely, Jr. and wife Anne of Little Rock, one son Bob Forgy of Oakridge, Tennessee, two daughters, Cindy Grace and husband David of North Little Rock, Nancy Mullen and husband Mike of Fall River, Massachusetts, 6 grandchildren Darby Grace, Jonathan, Josua, and Matthew Mullen, and Brandon and Blake Forgy.
There will be a graveside funeral service Thursday at 10am at Roselawn cemetery officiated by Dr. Rex M. Horne, Jr. Burial is under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church Building fund or the church library fund.
Gladys Laverne Caver Gerard
Gladys Laverne Caver Gerard, age 90, of Little Rock, widow of Frank Gerard, Sr., passed away peacefully on Monday. She was born in Hot Springs, but spent most of her life in Little Rock. She was a Catholic and member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church. Mrs. Gerard led an extremely active life volunteering in the community, church and schools. She was part of the group of patrons responsible for bringing the Community Concerts Association to Little Rock, and raised funds for various other charitable causes including St. Edward's Catholic Church, Catholic High School, Wolfe Street Foundation and Archild School.
She is survived by three sons, Frank Gerard, Jr. of Little Rock, Joseph H. Gerard of Pittsfield, MA, and Gilbert C. Gerard of Los Angeles, CA; a brother, Gilbert Caver of Little Rock, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A Rosary Service will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on Wednesday at 7:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Souls Catholic Church on Thursday at 10:00 AM with Monsignor David LeSieur officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials can be made to Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 North Tyler Street, Little Rock, AR or The Wolfe Street Foundation.
Eleanor Woods Godbold
Eleanor Woods Godbold, 95, of Little Rock, died Friday, July 25, 2003. She was born in Gulfport, MS and attended Grinell College in Iowa. She then married
Robert W. "Bobby" Godbold in Panama and moved to Cartagena Colombia where they lived for several years before moving to Warren and Monticello. They owned and operated the City Cleaners in both towns. Upon their retirement they moved to Eureka Springs. After Bobby's death in 1985 she moved to Little Rock to be near her daughters. She loved doing arts and crafts and was an avid bridge player.
Eleanor is survived by one daughter, Betty Ferguson, of Little Rock, four grandchildren, Woody Brogdon, Tricia Quertermous, Mari Alice Sumlin and Betty Lea Johnson and eight great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death, by a daughter, Alice Lea Quandt.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Ruebel Funeral Home.
Arnold S. Goodman
Arnold S. Goodman, age 80, of Little Rock, died March 14, 2003. He was preceded in death by his parents, Al J. Goodman, Sr., and Clare Luber Goodman and by two brothers, B. Paul Goodman and Al J. Goodman, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Virginia E. Goodman. a daughter, Leslie Allen and her husband Philip Allen of Longwood, Florida, two sons, Arnold N. Goodman and his wife Helen R. Crippen Goodman of Little Rock, Alan Goodman and his wife Kathleen Smith of Sunnyvale, California, and four grandchildren: Jayme, Jessica and Jennifer Crippen and Amy Smith Goodman. Born Danville, Virginia, in 1922, Mr. Goodman grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and graduated from Riverside Military Academy of Gainesville, Georgia, and Hollywood, Florida. After attending North Carolina State University, he served a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Goodman made Little Rock his home in 1949. He was in business for many years with his father and brother, Paul, as dealers in heavy road construction equipment; he later worked by himself in that business for over fifteen years. Mr. Goodman was a member and past president of Temple B'Nai Israel in Little Rock and a former president of the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. He also served as president of the Westridge Country Club, was a former member of the Little Rock Air Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman of the new airport dedication committee. He was a member of the Associated General Contractors of America. Arnold Goodman was the foundation upon which his family was built. He bestowed his enormous loving kindness generously upon his family, friends and community. A memorial service will be held at Temple B'Nai Israel at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2003. Arrangements are made by Ruebel funeral home www.ruebelfuneralhome.com . Contributions may be sent to Temple B'Nai Israel or the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10016.
Charles Henry Gray
Charles Henry Gray, age 80, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003. He was born in Paris, Arkansas on May 29, 1922 to the late Ezma Johns and Henry Gray. He graduated from Paris High School in 1940. He was preceded in death by one son, Charles Henry “Hank” Gray and a brother Kenneth Gray. He is survived by his wife, Bequita Bumpers Gray of Little Rock, two daughters; Anne Gray James and husband Dick of El Dorado, Gretchen Gray Norton and husband Mac of Little Rock, seven grandchildren; Hank Gray of Memphis, Chad Gray of New York, Andrew and William James of El Dorado, Gray, Elise and Mary Britton Norton of Little Rock, and two great-grandchildren; Vivian and Ava Gray of Memphis.
He was an Arkansas Tech Wonder boy for Coach John Tucker. Along with Tech’s team they were members of the Navy-Marines Contingent that with the onset of World War II sent en masse to Arkansas A&M at Monticello. Gray spent four years in the Pacific as a Second Lt Marine. On his return from World War II he enrolled at the University of Arkansas where he received his Masters in Education. He was a member of the 1946 Razorback football team that tied Louisiana State University in the Cotton Bowl. He was assistant coach to Wilson Matthews at Little Rock High School. By 1949 he was coaching the Razorback freshmen in Coach Barnhill’s last year. He was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation four years before returning to Fayetteville to become the first Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association. He was appointed United States Marshall of the Eastern District of Arkansas under President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan, and for nine years was the Chief of Federal Probation and Pre-trial Services for the United States District Court until his retirement in 1997. He continued to be an avid supporter of the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks. He also loved playing golf.
There will be a funeral service Friday at 10am at First United Methodist Church of Little Rock, officiated by Reverend Jeannie Burton and Reverend Ed Matthews. Burial services will be at 3pm at the Oakwood cemetery in Paris, Arkansas. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Little Rock or a favorite charity.
William Marcus Halbrook
William Marcus Halbrook, of Little Rock, died December 17, 2003. He was born at Zion, Arkansas on May 9, 1926, the third child of Dalton Clyde and Vera Haywood Halbrook. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his brother, Wendell B. Halbrook of Fort Worth, TX; his sisters, Mrs. W.C. Shofner (Elwanda) of Wayne, Oklahoma, Mrs. Jerry D. Otwell (Clyda) of Woodlands, TX, Mrs. George Wise (Hattie) of Forest City, AR; seven nieces and seven nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Emily Halbrook.
After graduating High School in Batesville, Arkansas he attended the University of Arkansas at Fayettville where he received a degree in Public Administration. He was a graduate of The Arkansas Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1952. He began his career with the Bureau of Legislative Research and was named Director of Arkansas Legislative Council in 1953. He retired in 1987 after serving 34 years as director.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday at Pinecrest Memorial Park with Rev. Jim Munns officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the UAMS College of Nursing, Jean McClendon Scholarship Fund, 4301 West Markham Slot 529, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Ines Edward Stewart Haley
Ines Edward Stewart Haley, age 81, of Little Rock and Plano, Texas, died Tuesday, July 22, 2003. She was born in El Paso, Arkansas moving to England where she graduated from high school. After her marriage to Talmage Ardis Haley, who died in 1988, they moved to Little Rock where Ines began her career at M.M. Cohn Department Store as the buyer of children's clothes for over twenty years. She was a past member of First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Ines loved gardening, decorating and supporting the Razorbacks.
She is survived two daughters; Sandra K. Lichty of Dallas, Texas, Janie A. Steele and husband Leon of Bismarck, Arkansas, one sister Jessie Foster and husband Ken of North Little Rock, and one granddaughter Haley Kay Steele of Austin, Texas.
There will be a visitation Friday from 5 to 7pm at Ruebel Funeral Home followed Saturday with a graveside burial at 10:00 a.m. at Forest Hills cemetery officiated by Pastor Leon Steele. Arrangements under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to A.S.P.C.A., 362 South Industrial Park, Dallas 75207.
