LITTLE ROCK — Frank W. Oldham Jr., a former banker and professor who served on the University of Arkansas board of trustees during the 1990s, died Tuesday in Little Rock.
Oldham, 67, passed away at UAMS Medical Center, a UA System e-mail said. His cause of death was unknown.
In 2011, Oldham applied for the job of UA System president, but the board hired Donald Bobbitt, provost at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Oldham served on the UA board from 1990 to 2000, the last two years as chairman. In 1999, Oldham was diagnosed with blood cancer.
Oldham worked in higher education for 15 years, including a decade teaching at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
He spent 25 years in banking. Oldham was chairman and chief executive officer of American State Bank of Jonesboro until it merged with BancorpSouth Bank in 2005, and regional president for Northeast Arkansas of BancorpSouth until he retired in 2008. He also was a former president and chief executive officer of Worthen Bank of Conway.
Springs. Visitation: Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Guest registry is at http://www.carriganmemorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to Carrigan Memorial Funeral Services Inc. (501) 623-7664.
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JONESBORO - Kathleen (Kathie) Gardinier of Jonesboro, died Monday, January 21, 2013. There will be no visitation or memorial, her desire was cremation and a remembrance by and to all with a face full of smiles. Arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home of Jonesboro. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
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JOY - Charles Leon Clay died January 21st at his residence. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, January 23rd from 6-8 p.m. at the Searcy-McEuen Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, January 24th at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Joy. Burial will follow at Mt. Hebron Cemetery. www.SearcyMcEuenFuneralHome.com.
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LONDON - Fred J. Parker, 61, of London, Ark., passed away on Monday, January 21, 2013, in Little Rock, Ark. Funeral will be 2 p.m. January 24, 2013 at Humphrey Chapel in Russellville, Ark., by Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
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MARVELL - Graveside services for Marjorie “Nina” Lee Hindsley, 81, of Marvell are 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sunset Memorial Park, West Helena. Visitation-1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Roller-Citizens. Survivors: husband, two daughters, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one step-grandchild. Services directed by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena, (870) 572-2571. Online guest book www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
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MENA - Mr. Howard Eugene “Speedy” McCauley, age 82, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Monday, January 21, 2013, in Mena. Graveside services will be Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Panther Creek Cemetery, at Plunkettville, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
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MENA - Mr. J.B. Norman, age 78, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Monday, January 21, 2013, in Mena. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Beasley-Wood Chapel. Interment follows in Owens Chapel Cemetery under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
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MOUNT VERNON - David Walls, 60, of Mount Vernon, died Sunday. A gathering of remembrance will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Funeral Home, 1751 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, Arkansas. (501) 327-5000.
Please send the family messages of condolence and memory at www.griffinleggettconway.com.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW - Doyle Jackson Banks, 73, died January 22. Funeral service: Thursday, January 24 at 2 p.m. at Howard Memorial Funeral Chapel in Melbourne. Burial: Reeves Cemetery under the direction of Eddie’s Family Funeral Home in Melbourne. Visitation: Wednesday, January 23 from 6-8 p.m.
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PERRYVILLE - Dean Williams O’Such, age 82 of Perryville, Arkansas, passed away, January 20, 2013. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, at Cherry Hill Cemetery with Bro. Joseph Giunta officiating. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Perryville. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.
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PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN - Leonardo Cesar Sanchez, age 77, of PetitJean Mountain, passed away on January 20, 2013. He was born June 12, 1935, in Santiago Chile. He and his wife Carmen, immigrated to the United States in 1973 and was proud to become an Americancitizen on September 17, 1987, the 200th anniversary of the original signing of the U.S. Constitution. He was employed by the Nelson Rockefeller Family of New York, for two years before moving to Petit Jean Mountain in 1975, where he worked thirty eight years, for the Winthrop Rockefeller Family.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents and six brothers in Chile. He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Carmen Sanchez; one son, Maury Sanchez and wife Cindy, and her children, Cara Pizzolatto and husband, Luke, David Newman and wife Ashley, all of Conway; one daughter, Katya Pearce and husband Tim, of Fayetteville; three grandsons, Christian, Ryan, and Aaron Pearce, of Fayetteville; a nephew, Rod Contreras, of Little Rock, along with numerous other family members remaining in Chile.
A rosary followed by visitation will be Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morrilton, and funeral mass will be held Thursday, at 1 p.m. also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Church or Sacred Heart Schools. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.
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PLEASANT PLAINS - John E. Foster Sr., 59, passed away January 19, 2013. Sons, John Foster, Jr. and Josh Randall Foster; mother, Alnora Allene Foster; sisters, Sarah Muratore and Jetta Hayes; two grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Jessie Cox. Visitation Thursday, 5-7 p.m., Olmstead Funeral Home. Graveside service Friday, 11 a.m., Settlement Cemetery. www.olmstead.cc.
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SEARCY - David Merrill Bledsoe, 78, passed away on Monday, January 21, 2013 in Searcy, Arkansas. Visitation was Tuesday, January 22, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home Searcy. Funeral Services at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the Kensett Baptist Church, with Bro. Joe Clements officiating. For online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
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SHERIDAN - Cecil Clayton Cash of Sheridan, Arkansas went to join his wife and be with Jesus on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the age of 95. He was born January 5, 1918 in Cleveland County near Rison, Arkansas to James David and Mary Anna Cash.
Cecil’s family moved to a farm in Sheridan in the winter of 1925. He attended Sheridan Schools. Cecil was saved at Lost Creek Baptist Church in 1935. He was a strong, faithful follower of the Lord for the remainder of his life.
During the Great Depression, he joined the CCC and spent time working in Utah and Little Rock. On June 24, 1940, he joined the United States Army and had a 21 year career. While in the Army he was trained as an amateur radio operator and received his private pilot’s license by attending flight school. After retirement from the Army, he and his family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, where he worked for Civil Service teaching radio communications at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He retired after 27 years of Civil Service employment.
Cecil married Laura Dean Minor on May 12, 1941. Mrs. Cash passed away on April 2, 2004, just one month before their 63rd wedding anniversary. After her death, Cecil moved back to Sheridan. At the time of his death he was living in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife and parents, infant daughter Nevolia Dean: sisters, Mary Springer, Mira Brown, Ruby Brown, Lottie Taylor, Lucile Cash and Mozell Williams; brothers, W.L. Cash, Larkin Cash, Dewey Cash, Walter Cash, J.R. Cash, Billie Cash, Frank Norris Cash and A.B. Cash.
Mr. Cash is survived by a son, Norris “Skip” (Wrennita) Cash of Hot Springs, Ark.; two daughters, Cecilia (Mike) Kolb of Austin, Texas; Cathey (Glen) Bynum of Broken Arrow, Okla.; brother, Fred (Shirley) Cash of Perry, Fla.; sisters, Earnestine (J.B.) Sanders of Fayetteville, Ark.; and Trudy (Alton) Carlton of Perry, Fla. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, 10 greatgrandchildren, two great-greatgrandchildren and his special caregivers Ligia and Aurel Velcherean of Hot Springs, Ark.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, and grandsons-in-law, Theron Cash, Jeremy Bynum, Philip Taylor and Chris Sanson and sons-in-law, Glen Bynum and Mike Kolb. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel with services being conducted by Rev. Cliff Gravett and Bro. James Holiman. Burial will follow at Lost Creek Cemetery in Sheridan with full military honors. Visitation will be prior to the service from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870)942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.
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WARREN - Ophelia Wagnon Williams, age 88 of Warren, Arkansas joined family and friends into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, January 22, at Chapel Hills Nursing Home, Warren. Ruth Ophelia Wagnon was born August 26, 1924 in the Blue Springs Community of Bradley County, Arkansas to John Robert and Mildred Chambers Wagnon. She graduated from Banks High School at the young age of sixteen and married the love of her life Burgess Williams on June 1, 1941. Ophelia and her husband established and operated Burgess Sales and Service a family owned business still operating in Warren. She worked at the business daily from 1950 until her retirement in 2007 and by example taught her children and grand children the work ethics and dedication necessary to succeed in the work force and in life.For 56 years she and Burgess operated a mail contracting business in Southeast Arkansas from the US Postal Service. They were awarded the Eagle Spirit Award from the US Postal Service in recognition of the many years of exemplary service. Ophelia was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in Warren where she was active in the choir and a Sunday School teacher. For over 50 years she sang in the Warren Quartet with her husband Burgess, brother-in-law Bruff Hudson and friend Alvin Doggett. The quartet had a daily radio show in the 1950’s that aired at noon on KWRFAM in Warren. Ophelia was a caring, compassionate and wise woman with a great sense of humor and beautiful smile. She raised her family in a home full of love, faith, good values and lots of fun and laughter.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Ophelia is preceded in death by a son, Robert Williams, daughter, Patsy Ruth Williams Trammel, and grandson Will Alpe. She is also preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Edward, Travis, and Delbert Wagnon; a sister, Marjorie Wagnon Cathey Miller. Ophelia is survived by her husband of 71 years, Burgess Williams, a daughter, Gloria Williams Alpe and husband Dick of Bentonville, grandchildren, Mike Williams and wife Sandra of Warren, Ladonna Williams Hammons and husband Joe of Warren, Robin Alpe Wright and husband Dan of Bentonville, and Kristel Williams Ashcraft and husband Craig of Rye. She is also survived by seven greatgrandchildren, Chris, Christina, Jaclyn, Austin, Drew, Emily, and Katieand two great-great-grandchildren, Cole and Jaxson and many precious cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members including the Nathan Moore family and the community of Cornerville where she and Burgess lived for 40 years and a daughter-in-law, Pat Williams, Warren.
Funeral services 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Frazer’s Chapel. Burial in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Visitation 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 23, at Frazer’s. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 605 Sturgis Street, Warren, Ark. 71671; Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, Ark. 72202-3591; Life Touch Hospice, El Dorado, Ark. Online guestbookwww.frazerfuneralhome.com.
Out-of-state
SALINA, Kan. - Donald Richard Smith, 84, of Salina, passed awayJanuary 20, 2013, in Jacksonville, Ark. He was born December 13, 1928, to Lester Smith and Catherine (Degen) Smith. He was a 20-year retired active duty Air Force Communications Specialistand then recruiter. He was a Patriot who loved God, his family and his country.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Catherine Smith; wives Virginia Smith, Shirley (Redden) Smith; and brother Gaylord L. Smith. Survivors include: sons Dr. Mark A. Smith (Tara) of Jacksonville, Ark., Richard M. Smith (Brenda) of Lindsborg, Kan., and Kent D. Smith (Konnie) of Salina, Kan.; grandchildren Mark Alan Smith Jr. (Chelsea), Joshua Smith (Kaci), Kamryn Smith, Katie Smith, Kyle Smith; and one great-grandchild, Lily Rose Smith.
Special thanks to the staff of North Metro Medical Center and Odyssey Hospice for their loving care. The visitation will be held at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel on Thursday, January 24, from 1-7 p.m., family will be in attendance from 5-7 p.m. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 25, at the Chapel. Memorials may be made to Odyssey Hospice of Jacksonville, Ark., in care of Roselawn Mortuary.Roselawn Mortuary, 1307 S. Santa Fe, Salina is handling arrangements. To leave condolences please visit www.roselawnmortuary.com.
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BENTON, La. - A memorial service for Karen Rochelle will be heldat 2 p.m. Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Stamps, Ark. Officiating will be Rev. Charles Walthall and Rev. Mark Rivers. Karen, 69, of Benton, La., died January 20,2013, at her home after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease. Karen was born August 10, 1943, in Buckner, Ark. She was a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, La. Because of her family’s love of baseball, she was instrumental in helping numerous young men obtain baseball scholarships. Karen loved her daddy and was definitely a Daddy’s girl. She was preceded in death by her father, Byron L. Lindsey. Karen is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, David Lynn Nipper; sons, Jarrod Nipper and wife Lacy, Zane Nipper and fiancee Rachael all of the Shreveport-Bossier area; mother, Esther Lindsey, 92, of Stamps, Ark.; brother, Kent Lindsey and wife Lise; and niece, Geri Lynn Hardy and KimJones. Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier Chapel 746-2543.
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GREENVILLE, Miss. - Reba Cooper Clanton, age 84, of Greenville, Miss., died Sunday, January 20. Funeral services 11 a.m. Thursday, January 24, Harmony Baptist Church in Greenville, Miss. Burial 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Moseley Cemetery, Warren, Ark., by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Visitation 10 a.m. until service Thursday, January 24. Online guest register www.frazerfuneralhome.com.
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WATERFORD, Va. - Cornelia F. Keller of Waterford, Va., humanrights activist, philanthropist, conservationist, historic preservationist, loving mother and devoted friend, died January 16, 2013, at the age of 66. She was born September 8, 1946, in Alexandria, La., growing up in Louisiana, Arkansas, New York and Mississippi. She graduated from Kent School (1964, receiving the Headmaster’s Prize), Sweet Briar College (1968) and Columbia University (1971, MA in Teaching).
For two years, she taught at Dalton School in New York City. She then married and moved to Richmond, Va., where she was an activist for women’s health and rights, vitally involved in the formation of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. She was a founding member in 1979 of the Peter Paul Development Center in Richmond, the oldest community-based organization serving Church Hill children and families, and also involved in the formation of the Richmond Urban Institute. In the 1980s, living in Washington, D.C., she strove toreduce Cold War tensions through Peace Child International. Most recently, from her restored cottage in Waterford, Va., she promoted environmental conservation and historic preservation with the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, which she cofounded. She was also a significant contributor to research toward a cure and management of neurofibromatosis type II, a disease with which she lived courageously. She was known as a savvy art collector and a photographer of rare perspicuity. She was admired for her indomitable spirit.
She was preceded in death by her father, the Rt. Rev. Christoph Keller, Jr., a sister, Martha Keller, and two sisters who died at birth.She is survived by her mother, Polly Keller Winter of Alexandria, La.; daughter Cynthia Henebry (Andrew Schoeneman) of Richmond, Va., and son, Christoph (Elese) Stutts of Carrboro, N.C.; sisters: Caroline (Jim) Theus of Alexandria, La., Cynthia Davis of Charlottesville, Va., Kathryn (Scott) Anderson of Alexandria, and Elisabeth Keller (Steve Bonsey) of Cambridge, Mass.; brother, Chris (Julie) Keller of Little Rock, Ark.; grandsons, Wendell and River Schoeneman of Richmond, and Graham and John Stutts of Carrboro; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Burial will be at Inglewood Plantation, 6379 Old Baton Rouge Highway, Alexandria, La. The service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 26. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, 95 Pine Street, 16th Floor, New York,N.Y., 10005; the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite F, Charlottesville, Va. 22903; or Journey Through Hallowed Ground, P.O. Box 77, Waterford, Va. 20197. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 01/23/2013