NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Emma Grace Bittle
FAYETTEVILLE — Emma Grace Bittle of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Monday, July 26, 2010, at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Fayetteville. She was born Saturday, July 24, 2010, to Todd Bittle and Andria Sisson Bittle.
Emma Grace’s diagnosis yielded only minutes for life expectancy at birth. However, God had been so greatly praised through her story that he granted her two days to enjoy sharing the love of family and friends, taking pictures, hand and foot molds, and place her footprints inside her family’s Bible. God treasured the prayers of His children.
Emma is survived by her parents; two brothers, Spencer Bittle and Miles Bittle; and one sister, Hattie Mae Bittle, all of the home; paternal grandparents, Ken and Glenda Bittle of Little Rock, Ark.; maternal grandparents, Gerald and Sarah Sisson of Hope, Ark.; and a host of extended family and friends that also loved her dearly.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Stockdale Funeral Chapel in Rogers, with a gathering in the Chapel at 7:30 p.m. for a time of sharing.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010, at Baby Land in the Rogers City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep at www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org in memory of Emma Grace Bittle.
Arrangements are by Stockdale Funeral Services in Rogers. Online condolences may be made at stockdalefuneral.com.
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Robert Raymond Fielding
ROGERS — Robert Raymond Fielding, 66, a resident of Rogers, Ark., passed away July 26, 2010, at his home in Rogers, Ark. He was born June 13, 1944, in Malvern, Ark., the son of Fletcher Pierce and Myrle Dean Buie Fielding.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark.
Bob was a graduate of Malvern High School in 1962. He entered the Army on Sept. 18, 1967. After boot camp, he was accepted into Officer’s Training School, from which he graduated on July 18, 1967. During his time in service, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 2nd battalion, 11th artillery, of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and received a Bronze Star, three Army Commendation medals with a “V” device for Valor, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon and the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Brave Eagle coin for meritorious and valorous actions during Vietnam.
After being honorably discharged from the Army on June 15, 1969, he joined the National Guard and served as captain until May 31, 1975. He was instrumental in establishing the Vietnam Service Memorial at the Rogers Municipal Airport. He was a longtime member of the Rogers Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Purchasing Management Association for 25 years, of which he served as president. He was a member of the Rogers Elks Club for over 10 years and served as a Leading Knight and as Exalted Ruler. He coached several youth baseball teams, served as president of the Rogers Little League and Rogers Babe Ruth Baseball Association, and was a huge Arkansas Razorback fan. He played an instrumental role in the procurement of the steel used to construct the first Rogers Youth Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Mary Fielding Gillespie.
Survivors include his wife, Minnie Louisa Reed Fielding of the home; two sons, Philip R. Fielding of Rogers, Ark., and Todd Alan Fielding of Lexington, S.C.; three daughters, Theda Jane Fielding of Shreveport, La., and Rebecca Elizabeth Polk and Lou Anne King, both of Rogers, Ark.; eight grandchildren, Jason Polk of Portland, Ore., Robert Prado of Portland, Ore., Chris Polk of Gunnison, Colo., Andrew Smith of Portland, Ore., Reed Fielding of Shreveport, La., Nicholas Fielding of Rogers, Ark., Kelsey King of Rogers, Ark., and Alex Fielding of Rogers, Ark.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday evening at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Ark.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Ark., with Bret Chambliss officiating. Burial will be in Beaty Cemetery near Lincoln, Ark.
Pallbearers will be: Allen Reed, Carlos Reed, Randy Atha, Leslie Reed, Clayton Reed, Bill Reed, Greg Williamson and Lee Reed.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Franky Dale Reed, Jim Reed, Chuck Reed, Wesley Reed, Bobby Reed, Albert Raymond Reed and Jason Reed.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Ark. The complete obituary may be viewed on the Luginbuel webpage. To sign the online guest book, visit www.luginbuel.com.
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Betty M. Staudt
ROGERS — Betty M. Staudt, 77, of Rogers, died Monday, July 26, 2010, at Circle of Life in Springdale. She was born Sept. 19, 1932, in Blanchard, Okla., to Oscar Carr and Janie Cassel Carr.
She enjoyed quilting and collecting arrowheads, and spent many happy hours playing card games with friends. She loved to laugh and enjoyed a good joke. Betty was a volunteer at the Salvation Army for over 10 years and a proud supporter of President Obama. She attended First Christian Church in Rogers. Her children, grandchildren and extended family were her source of joy.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Earnest Staudt, in 1990.
She is survived by three sons, Danny T. Staudt and wife, Shelli, of Toledo, Ohio, Michael E. Staudt and wife, Leslie, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Russell D. Staudt and wife, Sharon, of Norfolk, Va.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Sadie Carr, of Maysville, Okla.; brother-in-law, Monroe Betts of Dallas, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
No services will be held. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville.
Memorials may be made in honor of Betty Staudt to Circle of Life, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Arkansas 72762.
Arrangements are by Stockdale Funeral Services in Rogers. Online condolences may be made at stockdalefuneral.com.
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Randall Lee Jones
LOWELL — Randall Lee Jones, 30, of Lowell, Ark., passed away Sunday, July 25, 2010, at the Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark.
Randy was born on Dec. 1, 1979, in Springdale, a son of Darrell Jones and Patty Kelley Jones.
Randy was an artist, who especially enjoyed black-and-white drawings and was active in Aikido martial arts.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Jones, of the home; a daughter, Niki Rife, of the home; his father, Darrell Jones, of War Eagle, Ark.; his mother, Patty Hennington of War Eagle, Ark.; two brothers, Paul and Nathan Jones, of Springdale, Ark.; a grandmother, Florence Campbell, of Lowell, Ark.; a grandfather, Jeff Dunbar, of Lowell, Ark.; an uncle, Jeff Dunbar, of Lowell, Ark.; his mother-in-law, Diana Bradberry; along with many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at the Phillips Cemetery in Lowell, Ark. Pastor Ben Rowl will officiate the service under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. today, July 28, 2010.
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Alma Lavara James Johnston
ROGERS — Alma Lavara James Johnston, 91, of Rogers, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010. Alma was born Dec. 17, 1918, in Waurika, Okla., to the late William Montgomery and Helen (Davis) James.
She graduated from Waurika High School, class of 1939. Alma received her bachelor’s degree from Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas, and her master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. She taught math at Bentonville High School and Central Junior High in Springdale, Ark. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Rogers.
One of Alma’s proudest accomplishments was reaching her goal of visiting all 50 states by age 88. Days after Alma moved to Arkansas to be near her daughter, she purchased a van to drive around all the friends she would soon make. She loved hearing about the travel adventures of her granddaughter Emily, and playing Scrabble with her granddaughter Claire. Beautiful, intelligent and independent, hers was a life well-lived.
Alma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ivan “John” Johnston; two sisters, Odell James Bowen and Willie Lucille James.
Survivors include her daughter, Jan Johnston Ironside and husband Randy of Rogers; two granddaughters, Emily Ironside of Fayetteville and Claire Ironside of Lowell; and siblings, Henry Clay “Jack” James and wife Betty of Duncan, Okla., Benjamin Browning “Ben” James and wife Lavern of Waurika, Okla., David Lawrence “Buck” James of Waurika, Okla., Mary Elizabeth James Proctor of Texas, and Lois James Thurman of Owasso, Okla.
A 1:30 p.m. graveside service will be held in Waurika, Okla., on July 31. The family will receive relatives and friends at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Waurika.
Memorials: First United Methodist Church, 303 W. Elm, Rogers, AR 72756; Camp Aldersgate Med Camps for Children, 2000 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock, AR 72205; or any charity of choice.
Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home, downtown Rogers.
Online condolences may be made at www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com.
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Andrew Wallace
BELLA VISTA — Andrew “A.C.” Wallace, 75, of Bella Vista died July 26, 2010, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Maui, Hawaii, to Andrew and Cora Souza Wallace.
Survivors include his wife, Leslie; two sons, Derrick Wallace of Rogers and Harold Dean Jr. of Anaheim, Calif.; four daughters, Debbie Lutz of Denver, Doreen Curtis of Gravette, Darlene Molina of Riverside, Calif., and Denise Ferraro of Bella Vista; a brother; a sister; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel.
Thelma Irene Pickering
GARFIELD — Thelma Irene Pickering, 94, of Garfield, died Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. She was born June 12, 1916, in McDonald County, Mo., to Charley Henry Arnold and Eva Jane Rector Arnold.
She worked for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Kan., Uniroyal in California and Sterling Faucet Co. in Sheridan, Ark. She moved to Pea Ridge in 1984 to make her home, enjoyed cooking, quilting, embroidery, gardening and fishing. She sang with her husband and son in a gospel quartet for several years, traveling throughout the western part of the U.S. She attended Friends Church in California, and is preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Herman Henry Arnold; two sisters, Dortha Evelyn Morgan and Jewell Marie Patton.
Survivors are one son, Loren Dale Pickering, of Oregon.
Cremation arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
A graveside service is set for 4 p.m. Friday, July 30, at Antioch Cemetery with Pastor Rick Booyer officiating.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome.net.
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William H. Austin
BENTONVILLE — William H. “Bill” Austin, 86, of Bentonville, Ark., departed this earth on July 26, 2010, in Fayetteville. He was born Aug. 15, 1923, in Pea Ridge, Ark., to the late Oscar Wallace and Marie Gadberry Austin.
He was a graduate of Decatur High School, a veteran of the United State Army, having served his country proudly during WWII, earning the Purple Heart. He was owner-operator truck driver for Tri-State in Joplin, Mo., and also retired from Peterson Industries.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Pauline Austin, of Bentonville; a son, Billy Austin and wife, Donna, of Gravette; a daughter, Judy Vincent of Joplin, Mo.; a stepson, Donny Duncan and wife, Bobbi, of Rogers, Ark.; stepdaughters, Peggi Curtis of Sulphur Springs, Ark., and Patti Livingston of Louisiana; a granddaughter, Jana Green of Chicago, Ill.; and a grandson, Justin Green of Neosho, Mo.
He was a loving father to all the children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, at the First Christian Church in Gravette.
Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravette.
Arrangements are under the care of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville.
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Linda Kay Mitchell
SPRINGDALE — Linda Kay Mitchell, 64, of Springdale died July 25, 2010, at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. She was born Oct. 21, 1945, in Avant, Okla., to Percy and Minnie Thomason Ross.
She was a former caregiver and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a son, Terry Mitchell and wife, Joan, of Centerton; a daughter, Rhonda Thomas and husband, John, of Lowell; a half-sister; and three grandchildren.
Private graveside services will be Friday at Coffelt Cemetery near Vaughan.
Cremation arrangements are by Memorial Funeral Home in Springdale.