Robert Leslie Bogle (Bob)

Robert Leslie Bogle (Bob), 95, of Bentonville, died Thursday, March 24, 2022. He was born September 12, 1926 in Langely, Okla., to Claude E. and Evelyn Bogle. He graduated from Ketchem High School in 1943, and attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Okla. In January 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and after graduating from Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., was assigned to the Company 1 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. In spring of 1947, he attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and in the fall of the same year, transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While attending the U of A, he worked as a volunteer fireman and lived in the downtown Fayetteville firehouse while attending school. Bob graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and began his career in the Public Health Department in Augusta, Ark., where he met and married his secretary's daughter, Marilyn McElwee. After their marriage on September 3, 1950, the couple moved for a year to Chapel Hill, N.C., for Bob to attend the University of North Carolina, where he received a Master of Science in Public Health. In October 1951, Bob and Marilyn moved to Bentonville, where Bob worked as the Benton County Health Inspector, with an office in the Benton County Courthouse on the downtown square. Within a few years Bob and Sam Walton became good friends while attending Rotary meetings and going on quail hunting trips. By 1955, Mr. Walton had convinced Bob to change careers from public health to managing his Walton 5 and 10 store just across the square from the courthouse. When the new and larger Walton Family Center store was built, Bob became the manager there. He loved working in the store, and you usually heard his cheerful whistling upon entering. He eventually moved to the general office, where he would take on solving some of the of challenges of the new company. Many changes would occur over the next decade as the Walmart company was formed and the number of stores increased. Bob will be remembered for his suggestion to Mr. Walton concerning the name of the company—"Wal-Mart". Bob wrote this suggestion for Mr. Sam, who glanced at it and put it in his pocket. Bob did not know if he would use the name until he saw the letters going up on the first store in Rogers, Ark. After a career in management, Bob retired from Walmart on July 1, 1982. Bob's military career with the Arkansas National Guard began on July 9, 1954. In June 1972, as a Lt. Col., he took command of the Battery A 1st Battalion 142nd Artillery and remained in the Arkansas National Guard until his retirement in 1982 at the rank of Colonel. Bob and Marilyn were always involved in civic activities. Bob was recognized numerous times for his commitment to beautifying the city of Bentonville. After his retirement from Walmart and the National Guard, Bob and Marilyn began traveling extensively. Both loved visiting gardens throughout the world. Many trips were taken with the Arkansas Alumni Association and the American Horticulture Society. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with a trip around the world, traveling on the Concorde supersonic jet. In his free time at home, Bob loved to garden and over the years developed the once vacant lot across from their home into a beautiful garden name Bogle Park. Having attended the University of Arkansas, Bob became a true Razorback fan. For one of their first dates, he took Marilyn to a Razorback football game in Little Rock. They became life-long fans and followed the Razorbacks to many games, tournaments, and bowl games. Their devotion to the U of A is evident in their contributions to endowments, scholarships, and building projects both in scholastics and athletics. Bob and Marilyn joined the First Baptist Church of Bentonville as soon as they arrived in Bentonville in October 1951, and continued as members throughout their lifetimes. Bob was also a longtime member and past president of the Bentonville Rotary Club. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity in so many ways, always ready to tell you what a great job you were doing no matter the task. For Bob, every day was an excellent day. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Claude E. and Evelyn Bogle; and his brother, Roger Bogle. He is survived by his three children: David Bogle (Tina) of Bentonville, Becky Alexander (Bob) of Rogers, and Ann McKenzie (Jim) of Bentonville. Surviving grandchildren are: Ben Bogle (Sara) of Destin, Fla., Erin Easley (Jason) of Gravette, Marshall McKenzie of Bentonville, and Sam McKenzie (Larissa) of Bentonville, and great-grandchildren, Lukas, Brittney, and Halie Easley of Gravette. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Wilma Bogle of Grove, Okla. A visitation will be held 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesday March 30, 2022, at First Baptist Church, Bentonville, with the funeral service starting at 1 p.m. under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, Rogers. A private burial will take place at Bentonville cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark., 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, Ark., 72712, nwacircleoflife.com, or the Bentonville Library Foundation, 405 Main St. Bentonville, Ark., 72712. To leave an online condolence please visit: www.bernafuneralhomes.com.