Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Bobby Earl Mills
Bobby Earl (Sweet Darlin') Mills, 69, of Dardanelle, formerly of the Spadra Community, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at River Valley Medical Center.
He was a native of Logan County, son of the late Clarence Edward and Minnie Mae Roberts Mills, 1957 graduate of Hartman High School where he played basketball and baseball, attended the University of the Ozarks, 32nd degree Mason, former resident of Novato, Calif., where he was employed building airplane parts, served in the U. S. Army as a military police officer, former employee of Russellville Firestone and Hardrock Mines in Utah, and a 25-year veteran of the Arkansas State Police having begun as an interstate patrolman in Little Rock in 1966 prior to transferring to Dardanelle one year later where he was stationed in Yell County until his retirement as corporal in 1991. He was preceded in death by one brother, Clarence Edward (J. J.) Mills Jr.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Linda Cockburn Mills; one daughter and son-in-law, Mindy and Jerry Crow of Dardanelle; one sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Mel Hays of Dardanelle; two sisters, Mildred Tillman of Clarksville and Margaret Ralph and husband, Jack, of Salinas, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Dardanelle Community Center.
Burial was in Brearley cemetery with the Arkansas State Police Honor Guard and graveside Masonic rites by Bright-Star No. 213.
Active pallbearers were the Arkansas State Police Honor Guard.
Honorary pallbearers were all state and local law enforcement officers, members of the Yell County Wildlife Federation and the Bigger Creek Hunting Club.
Arrangements were under the direction of Cornwell Funeral Home of Dardanelle.
Dr. David Gibbons
Dr. David Leroy Gibbons, whose son, David L. Gibbons Jr. and wife, Iva Nell, reside in Clarksville, died Thursday, July 24, 2008, in Ozark.
He was a native of Ozark, son of the late Dr. William Henry Gibbons Sr. and Carrie Johnson Gibbons, 1942 graduate of Ozark High School, attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, 1947 graduate of the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock and interned at Hillcrest Memorial Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., prior to returning to Ozark in 1948 to practice medicine with his father for two years before choosing to serve in active duty with the Medical Corps at 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1953 he returned to the Ozark medical practice while serving in the National Guard from which he retired as a major. He continued his medical practice until retirement in 1995, interrupted only by a residency in psychiatry at UAMS in 1972-73.
Dr. Gibbons was a charter and life member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a diplomate and charter member of the American Board of Family Practice, a life member of the Arkansas Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association, the Franklin County Medical Society and the Arkansas Cardiovascular Institute.
He was a member and held office in several civic organizations and received numerous honors from the city of Ozark including the Thomas Carter Dangers Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Ozark First United Methodist Church where he sang in the chancel choir as well as for weddings and funerals. He was preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Alice Barnett Gibbons; one other son, James W. Gibbons and wife, Julia, of Stuttgart; eight grandchildren, David L. Gibbons III and wife, Rebecca, Jennifer Carrie Gibbons Forand and husband, David, Andrew Richard Gibbons, Nora Elizabeth Gibbons, Jamie Shea, Jeremy Gunn, Jessie Stillwell and Eli Gunn; and ten great-grandchildren, Dylan, David Anthony, Rebekah, Jackie, Savannah, Eliza, Tori, Bridger, Jaxon, and Christian.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at First United Methodist Church in Ozark with Rev. Keith Dodson officiating.
Burial was in Highland cemetery under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
Pallbearers were David Forand, Andrew Gibbons, Dylan Gibbons, David Anthony Gibbons and Johnny Maxwell.
Memorials may be made to Turner Memorial Goodwill Fund, 801 West River, Ozark, AR 72949 or the charity of the donor's choice.
Elva Mae Boen
Elva Mae Boen, 86, of Tulsa, Okla., formerly of Salus, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at Maplewood Care Center in Tulsa, Okla.
She was a Baptist, daughter of the late Suel M. and Sarah J. James Stepp, and widow of Burlie Boen.
She is survived by one son, Hearl Boen and Linda of Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, Ruben Stepp of Paris; three grandchildren, Kathy Willis, Debra Lybarger, and Karen Clark; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Salus Church with Rev. Robert Boen officiating.
Burial was in the Rosetta cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Glenn Stepp, Keith Stepp, Ronnie Stepp, Dolen Stepp, Carl Easley, and Brent Cook.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Knuckles, James Davis, James D. Stepp, Odell Boen, and Ed Kimbriel.
Geneva Armstrong
Geneva Vermelle Armstrong, 85, of Branch, grandmother of Heath Roper of Ozone, died Sunday, July 27, 2008, at her home.
She was a native of Stratford, Okla., daughter of the late Charles John and Maude Wilmer Sykes Lee, was employed at Tinker Field in Midwest City, Okla., during World War II, former employee of Montgomery Ward, member of the American Legion Auxiliary and First Christian Church in Edmond, Okla., and attended First Free Will Baptist Church in Charleston.
Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Clarence Eldon (Red) Armstrong; one daughter, Melanie Armstrong of Pocola, Okla.; one sister, Thelma Rollman of Warren, Mich.; one brother, Charles Lee of Edmond, Okla.; two other grandsons, Aaron Maxwell of the home and Ryan Roper of Midwest City, Okla.; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31, at Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston followed by graveside services at 1 p.m. at the U. S. National cemetery in Fort Smith with Rev. Jackie Brown officiating.
Active pallbearers were Larry Walthall, Wayne Ayers, James McDaniel, George Ross, Paul King and Richard Hannaford.
Honorary pallbearers were American Legion Post No. 8 and the Ladies Auxiliary.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 8006, Fort Smith, AR 72902.
Ila J. Uptigrove
Ila Jean Uptigrove, 67, of Scranton died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at her home.
She was a native of Dublin, daughter of the late Joseph William and Leona Pearl McNealy Stovall, member of Johnson Freewill Baptist Church, former employee of Ora Ida Foods, and was preceded in death by one son, James Roy Uptigrove.
Survivors include her husband, Bobby Ray Uptigrove; four daughters, Bobbie Jean Thompson, Shela Ray Flaherty, and Mary Jane Bowden, all of Scranton, and Joann Clark of Lamar; two sons, Billy Joe (Bub) Uptigrove of Scranton and John Michael Uptigrove of Dover; one brother, Billy Joe Stovall of Paris; 19 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Johnson Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny McCoy and Rev. Jimmy Williams officiating.
Burial was in Wares Chapel cemetery under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Bob Cravens, Bobby Clark, Jason Bowden, James Thompson, Tom Flaherty, and Jack Flaherty.
Honorary pallbearers were Matt Byron, Joey McQuade, Jason Holman, Chris Watkins, James Robert Thompson, Zachary Ward, Thomas Flaherty Jr., Hiley Carpenter, Billy Joe Upitgrove Jr. and Kevin Uptigrove.
L. R. Fox
L. R. (Bub) Fox, 80, of Prairie View died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008, in Clarksville.
He was a native of Prairie View, son of the late John Henry and Radna Ewing Fox, lifetime livestock dealer, co-owner of Fort Smith Livestock Auction, member of St. Meinrad Catholic Church and was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Spicer Fox.
He is survived by eight daughters, Lawrence Ann Copeland of Prairie View, Gloria Kay Goodin of Pocola, Okla., Carolyn Ward of New Blaine, Cindy Schluterman of Subiaco, and Cherry Kremer, Nancy Neumeier, Debbie Berry and Mary Koch, all of Scranton; six sons, John Fox and David Fox, both of Scranton, and Jim Fox, Don Fox, Richard Fox, and Mark Fox, all of Subiaco; one sister, Doris Jean Fritche of Fort Smith; one brother, Charles Harry Fox of Malvern; 31 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.
Rosary was at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at St. Meinrad Catholic Church with burial in St. Meinrad cemetery at Prairie View.
Pallbearers will be John, Jamie, Ben and Lance Fox, Bill Copeland, Jeff Goodin, Craig Schluterman, Scott Berry and Andy Koch.
