Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Dale Sams
Dale Sams, 86, of Clarksville died Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Johnson Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Limestone, son of the late James and Margaret Wilson Sams, retired Tyson Foods employee, member of the New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Clarksville, and was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Harris Sams; one daughter, Linda Sams; eight sisters, Nancy, Olas Louise, Effie, Blanche, Zanie, Florie, Fleecie, and Candace; and three brothers, Clarence, Henry, and Roy.
He is survived by one daughter, Carol Morris and husband, David, of Clarksville; two sons, Gary Sams and wife, Helen, of Morrilton and Jerry Sams and wife, Lesia, of Alma; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 2 p.m. Monday, June 14, at Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Morris and Rev. Glen Newton officiating. Burial was in Oakland cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Mark Morris, Jody Sams, Gary Sams Jr., Matthew Sams, Will Sams, and Brent Sams.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Heart to Heart Sunday School Class.
Harold Gene Barron
Harold Gene (Sonny) Barron, 80, of Clarksville died Thursday, June 10, 2010, at his home.
He was a native of Pittsburg, Okla., son of the late Chewy and Merle Elizabeth Osburn Valdez, former insulator employee, member of Jamestown Assembly of God Church, and was preceded in death by one son, Harold Barron Jr.; and one brother, James Edward Nichols.
Survivors include his wife, Henrietta Jackson Barron; one daughter, Joann Jasso and husband, Leo, of Danbury, Texas; one sister, Aletha Fivecoats of Altus; two brothers, Joe Bill Nichols and wife, Pat, of Richwood, Texas, and Louis Dean Nichols and wife, Linda, of Fulton, Mo.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral was at 11 a.m. Monday, June 14, at the Jamestown Assembly of God Church with Rev. Amos Pledger officiating.
Burial was in Carter cemetery under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were Daniel Keenom, Christopher Keenom, Leo Jasso, Dewayne Jasso, Joe Nichols, and Dean Nichols.
Honorary pallbearers were George Findly, Homer Qualls, and Frank Samply.
Myrtle B. Strupp
Myrtle Bernice Strupp, 84, of Knoxville died Friday, June 11, 2010, at Lamar.
She was a native of Westminster, Calif., daughter of the late William and Ethel Foller Graham, and widow of Earl Strupp.
Survivors include two daughters, Irene Sotomayor of Knoxville and Alice Lohen of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; one son, Roger Strupp of Clarksville; three sisters, Louise Hare of Yorba Linda, Calif., Violet Grivey of Orland, Calif., and Gladys Kremer of Reno, Calif.; one brother, Bill Graham of Placerville, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services and burial will be at Rose Hills cemetery in Whittier, Calif.
Local arrangements were under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Patsy L. Ralls
Patsy Louise McGuire Ralls, 55, of Clarksville died Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Clarksville.
She was a native of Joiner, daughter of the late James and Laura Farmer McGuire, Pentecostal, and was preceded in death by two sisters, Sue Young and Shirley White; and four brothers, L.J. McGuire, Don McGuire, Billy McGuire, and Kenneth McGuire.
She is survived by her husband, Rusty Ralls; one daughter, Amy Martin of Vandervoort; two sons, Jeff McCartney and wife, Kelly, of Mena and Jamie Ralls and wife, Monica, of Cove; and five grandchildren.
Crematory arrangements are under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home.
Wilma Hecker
Wilma Hecker, 89, of Ozark, mother of Jim Saunders of Coal Hill and Paul Hecker of Lamar, died Wednesday, June 2, 2010, in Ozark.
She was a native of the Alix-Denning area, daughter of the late James and Johnnie Borrough Harger, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Mildred Wall.
Survivors include one daughter, Earlene Morrison of Friendship; two other sons, Jerry Jones of Donaldson and Gene Saunders of Russellville; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Coal Hill cemetery with Rev. Ted Darling officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.
Thelma Van Arsdale
Thelma Van Arsdale, aged 93, of Little Rock, AR, passed away Saturday evening, June 12, 2010, at her home in Little Rock.
Thelma was born March 4, 1917, in a tent at an Oklahoma coal field near Henryetta. She traveled by covered wagon to Clarksville, AR, in 1931, where she lived for 64 years, until 1995.
After graduating from The College of the Ozarks in 1941 with a B.A. degree, Thelma began a long and rewarding teaching career that began as an elementary school teacher in Judsonia, AR. In the early 1940s, Thelma also worked for the government WPA agency which built the high school in Clarksville that was located on Cherry Street. Thelma then resumed her teaching career at Hartman, AR, teaching fifth and sixth graders at the elementary school, then later taught a business class at the high school there.
In 1952, Thelma met and married
her beloved Philip Van Arsdale. They were happily married
for 38 years. In 1956, Thelma began teaching business and English at Lamar High School, where she remained until her retirement in 1977. Thelma was richly rewarded by the many relationships and bonds she developed with her students, many of whom remained in touch with her until her death.
After Thelma’s retirement in 1977, she traveled all over the USA with Phil and her children. Many good times and fond memories were had which will be cherished by her family. After Phil’s death in 1990, Thelma moved to Parkway Village Retirement Center in Little Rock, AR, to be closer to her children. Thelma developed many good friends there including Miss Emily, Edie, Velma, and Ida Marie, along with many others whom she cherished. She lived a rich and fulfilling life her remaining years in Little Rock and will be missed by all who knew her at Parkway Village.
Thelma was preceded in death by her father, Elijah Marvin and her mother, Rusha Ellen Blackwell Curtis; two brothers; one sister; and three stepdaughters.
She is survived by one son, Wade Van Arsdale and wife, Lyle Ann, of Little Rock; one
daughter, Ellen Johnson and husband, Hugh, of Little Rock; one stepson, Ronald Van Arsdale, of Little Rock; two grandchildren, Wendy Nelson of Maumelle and Clay Johnson of Houston, Texas; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, at Hardwicke Funeral Home Chapel in Clarksville, AR, with Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating. The funeral will be preceded by visitation from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, at Hardwicke Funeral Home. Interment will be at Oakland cemetery in Clarksville immediately following the service.
Pallbearers will be Clark Gray, Bobby Dayne Phillips, C.O. Blackard, Clay Johnson, Sam Nelson, and Ron Van Arsdale.
Memorials made to Cherry Street Baptist Church, 800 West Cherry Street, Clarksville, AR 72830 or Feed the Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
Jerry Wagoner
Jerry Wagoner, 73, of Clarksville died Monday, June 14, 2010, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith.
He was a native of Booneville, son of the late Willis and Naomi Taylor Wagoner, 1954 graduate of Booneville High School, where he was named all conference and all state in football, 1958 graduate of the University of the Ozarks, where he was named to the all Arkansas Intercollegiate conference, received a master's degree from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, and did post graduate work at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
He was activated in the National Guard Unit at Fort Smith as a medic, coached football at Mansfield High School for four years prior to coming to the University of the Ozarks, where he coached track and football for 30-plus years, and was professor of physical education. He was preceded in death by one son, Harley Wagoner.
He loved the outdoors and especially his cabin at Booneville near Jack Creek.
Survivors include his wife, Delores Blackard Wagoner; two sons, Mitchell Wagoner and Jay Wagoner, both of Clarksville; and one granddaughter, Sarah.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 17, at Raymond Munger Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville with Rev. Marci Ward and Dr. Rick Niece officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hardwicke Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the University of the Ozarks, 415 North College Avenue, Clarksville, AR 72830 or First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 1068, Clarksville, AR 72830.
