in Little Rock October 25, 1928, daughter of the late Claibourne Watkins Conway and the late Mildred Hollis Conway, she was a descendant of many pioneer Arkansas families, including the Curran, Sevier, Watkins, Hollis, and Taliaferro families, and was the great granddaughter of the first governor of the State of Arkansas, James Sevier Conway, and the great, great granddaughter of Arkansas' last Territorial Governor and first U. S. Senator, William Savin Fulton. Mrs. Papan attended Little Rock High School, St. Catherine's School in Richmond, Virginia, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she was affiliated with Chi Omega Fraternity. She continued to be very active with the Little Rock Chi Omega Alumnae Club, in which she held many chairmanships. She was a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America and served for several years as a Troop Leader. A lifetime member of Christ Episcopal Church, where she was a former member of the Vestry, Mrs. Papan was much involved with Episcopal Church Women, serving as chairman of St. Agnes Guild, decorations chairman for parish functions, and on the Hospitality Committee Mrs. Papan was a member of The Arkansas Society of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America, and was the organization's program chairman for many years. For more than 30 years Mrs. Papan was employed by Little Rock Dermatology Clinic.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Curran and Ellen Papan of Little Rock, a daughter and son-in-law, Leslee and Kelly Brown of Fayetteville, three granddaughters, Kristin Papan of Little Rock, and Natalie and Madeline Brown of Fayetteville. She is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Carolynn Conway Coleman and Walter C. "Buddy" Coleman, Jr., and, Hollis Conway Kennedy and James N. Kennedy, Jr., all of Little Rock, and seven nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation at Ruebel Funeral Home from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 21st. The funeral service will be at Christ Episcopal Church, at 5th and Scott, on Friday, the 22nd, at 10:00 A. M. with the Rev. Larry Benfield officiating. Pallbearers will be Jamie Crews, Clay Crews, Buddy Coleman, Kim Kennedy, Kelly Brown, Clay Patty, Paul Green, and Frank Park. Following the church service, burial will be at Mt. Holly Cemetery
at 12th and Broadway. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, Fifth & Scott, L.R., the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, L.R. or the Chi Omega Foundation, P. 0. Box 2121, Memphis, Tennessee 38159.
Walter Lawrence Orton
Helen Ann Larsen, age 78, of Midland, Texas, died Monday, July 1, 2002, in Midland, Texas. She was born
on May 27, 1924 in Stuttgart, Arkansas and married
Leon Vernon Larsen on June 22, 1944 in Little Rock. He preceded her in death in January 1997. Helen was a long time resident of Coshocton, Ohio, and, and has been in Midland community since 1997. She was a Presbyterian. Mrs. Larsen was very active in the community theatre in Coshocton, Ohio, as an actor, director, and choreographer. She loved to cook and paint with watercolors. She was also a weaver at The Craft House and the recreations docent at the Roscoe Village Museum.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Claire and Robert Kahle of Midland; a grandson, Adam Kahle and wife April of Midland, three great-grandchildren, one sister, Rosalind Fredeman of Little Rock, Arkansas and one brother Brice Worthington of Laguna Niguel, California.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater West Texas Chapter, 4400 North Big Spring, Suite c-32, Midland, Texas 79705. There was a graveside funeral service held Friday at Roselawn Cemetery.
Local arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Little Rock arrangements were under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
L'Moore Fontaine Alford
L'Moore Fontaine Alford, teacher, artist, died Friday, October 18th, 2002. A Little Rock resident, she was born
in Hot Springs, Arkansas to the late Dr. Thomas Dale and L'Moore Smith Alford. L'Moore graduated from Groveton High School in Alexandria, Virginia during her father's time representing Arkansas in the House of Representatives. While living in Washington she was named a Cherry Blossom Princess in 1960, and in 1961 was a Country Club of Little Rock Debutant as well as being selected to the prestigious National Debutant Register in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority, later graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with her degree in English. She taught first grade at the Cathedral School, Phillips Community College, and was once a teacher of art at the Arkansas Extended Learning Center. While living in California L'Moore studied art and acting from renounced teachers that included Agnes Moorehead, Marcel Marcau, Laurie Main and Natalie O'Hare. She performed at the U.A.L.R. theatre, and Little Rock's Community Theatre. She was owner of the Exquisite Paints doing faux finishes, and murals.
She is survived by one son Robert Wheat Goss, II and wife Robin of Minturn, Colorado, one daughter Elizabeth Fontaine Alford of Little Rock, one sister Anne Maury Alford Winanns of Little Rock and 2 grandchildren Pearl and Isabella Goss.
There will be a visitation at the Ruebel Funeral Home Sunday from 5 to 7P.M. followed by a funeral service Monday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 11 A.M. officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson and The Reverend Canon R. Ewing Jackson. Burial will follow at Mount Holly Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock 72205..
John Bradley Witherspoon Jr.
John Bradley Witherspoon Jr., died Sunday, March 31, 2002. Services will be held today, April 3rd, 2002, at 11 A.M., at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Survivors include his great-grandmother, Marcia Collier Dees. In Lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the John Bradley Witherspoon, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, in care of The Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 South Rock Street, Little Rock 72202. The family will receive friends at 334 Midland, Little Rock.
Lynn Wilson
Lynn Wilson, a wonderful mother died on Thursday, August 8, 2002. Lynn was a very special person. She was a sensitive and caring friend, whose kindness and generosity were boundless. Her love of her family and friends will always be cherished and remembered. Lynn was born
May 14, 1954 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She attended Little Rock Public Schools, and graduated from Parkview High School in 1972. Lynn attended the University of Arkansas where she was an excellent student, making the Dean's list several times. She was a Home Economics major with a degree in Early Childhood Development. Lynn was also a member of Chi Omega Sorority. After graduating from the University of Arkansas she lived in Shreveport, Louisiana where she worked for Interstate Electric Company. She later returned to Little Rock and was employed by Fones Brothers. She worked for the family's heavy equipment distributorship, Little Rock Road Machinery for several years, before attaining her Real Estate license. She was currently a realtor with the Armstrong Team Realtors. Lynn's many hobbies included gardening, canning and walking. As a member of the Junior League of Little Rock Lynn served as Riverfest Entertainment Chairman. Lynn was also a Past President of Friends of the Zoo Board of Directors, and a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her two sons, Thomas Glen Cole, II and Robert Kent Cole both of Little Rock, and friends Jack Bailey and Paul Corbitt. She is the daughter of Robert J. "Bob" Wilson, Sr. and Eleanor "Nell" Wilson of Little Rock, siblings; Mary W. Allison and husband John of Little Rock, Robert J. "Jim" Wilson, Jr. and wife Maggie of Little Rock, Pattye W. Lassiter, and husband Jim of Little Rock, and Louis G. Wilson and wife Joline of Winnetka, Illinois and 8 nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation Sunday from 5 to 7 P.M. at the Ruebel Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service Monday, August 12th at 10 A.M. at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church on Woodlawn officiated by Reverend Lynn Lindsey. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Pulaski County Humane Society of your favorite charity.
James Gaston Williamson
James Gaston Williamson, age 88 of Little Rock was born
in Monticello, Arkansas, January 22, 1914, the second of four children of Lamar and Lillian Phillips Williamson, died June 6, 2002. A product of the Monticello public school system, Gaston attended Monticello A & M. College for two years, followed by two years at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he received a BA Degree and Phi Beta Kappa key in 1934. During his second year in law school at Fayetteville in 1935, he was selected as a Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University in England for three years. There he earned two degrees in Jurisprudence and traveled extensively in Europe. In early 1939, Gaston began his practice of law in Monticello with his father, Lamar and uncle, Adrian in the law firm of Williamson and Williamson. Convinced that war in Europe was inevitable and that the United States would eventually be drawn into it, Gaston in 1939 also joined the 206th CA (AA) National Guard Battery at Monticello as a Second Lieutenant. In November of 1940, he married
Wrenetta Worthen of Little Rock, who died in 1999. In January of 1941 he was inducted into Federal Service with the National Guard Battery at Monticello. He served for five years in the U.S. Army during World War II, including two years (without) leave at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Island, and nine months of fighting with the VII Corps across Germany. Discharged as a Lieutenant-Colonel at the end of 1945, Gaston practiced law with a Wall Street law firm for two years. He then moved to Little Rock where he practiced law for forty years with the Rose Law Firm, retiring at the end of 1989. Gaston was an active member of the Presbyterian Church since childhood, with membership in Little Rock at Second Presbyterian Church. Before retirement, he was active in civic affairs in Little Rock, including a movement to reopen the high schools following the 1957 school crisis. He was also an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association of which he served as President in 1968-69.
He and his late wife Wrenetta are survived by three children, James Gaston Williamson, Jr. and wife Carole of Van Buren, Arkansas, Dr. G. Gordon Williamson and his partner Dr. A. Georg Fleischer of New York City, Edith W. Farrell and her husband Joe of Danville, California, one brother Reverend Lamar Williamson and wife Ruthmary of Montreat, North Carolina, four granddaughters, Edith W. Bell and husband J. Kevin, Mary W. Riche and husband Dr. Andrew B., Jennifer W. Farrell, Shannon M. Farrell, and four great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service Wednesday at 10 A.M. at Second Presbyterian Church officiated by Reverend Steve Hancock and Reverend Karen Akin. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to the Gaston and Wrenetta Williamson Cardiology Research Fund, UAMSC, 4301 West Markham St. Slot 716, Little Rock 72205, or the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home, 745 Old Warren Road, Monticello, Arkansas 71655.
Joseph Robert Patterson
Joseph Robert Patterson of Little Rock died on Monday, October 20, 2003. Born on November 22, 1931 in Bradford, Arkansas. Mr. Patterson was the only son of the late Dewey Patterson and Opal Scantlin Patterson. He graduated from Bald Knob High School and attended Arkansas State Teachers College before serving his country in the Navy during the Korean War, where he was decorated for action in the invasion of Inchon in 1950.
After the war he entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was treasurer of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received a B.S. in Business Administration.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Carol Lackey Patterson, his sons Joe Patterson, Jr., and Chris Patterson, both of Houston, Texas, and his son Larry and his wife, Marie, of North Little Rock. His twin grandsons, Brandon Govan and Carter Alexander, born
earlier this year, were the great joy of his life. He leaves behind a number of relatives, and many friends.
Joe was a natural salesman. In the course of his career, he was associated with the Frank Lyon Company of Little Rock and the Mischer Corporation of Houston, Texas. For the last 15 years, he has been a contract salesman for the W.L. Roberts Company in Memphis. He always had the gift of good humor and charm, and that sparkle in his eye that made him welcome when he called on his clients.
Joe was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Little Rock, where he was president of the Boanerges Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23 at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday October 24 at Trinity United Methodist Church with interment
following in Roselawn Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Boanerges Sunday School Class.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 1101 North Mississippi, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72207.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Adrian Williamson Jr.
Adrian Williamson, Jr., a retired banker, state economic development director and prominent civic leader, died Friday, November 29. He was born
August 20, 1925 to Catherine Montgomery and Adrian Williamson, Sr., of Monticello, descendents of pioneer families in Arkansas.
He graduated from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. and attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a BS degree in business administration. During his professional career, he completed advanced training from the Louisiana State University School of Banking, the Brookings Institution for Advanced Study on Urban Policy, and the U.S. Department of State Executive Diplomat Institute.
Mr. Williamson served in the Army during World War II in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, Germany. An avid aviator, he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and a captain in the Air Force Reserve. Following graduation from college, he was branch manager of Riggs Tractor Company in Jonesboro and state sales manager in Little Rock; Vice President of Marketing for Commercial National Bank in Little Rock; Vice President of the International Division of Union National Bank in Little Rock; Little Rock; President of City National Bank in Fort Smith; President of Williamson Chevrolet-Cadillac Company in Monticello; and investment banker with Prudential Bank Securities in Little Rock.
He was appointed by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller to serve as Director of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. As a state cabinet officer, he established the first statewide vocational industrial training program for employees, advocated multi-modal transportation for the region and secured the permanent location of the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson County. He was selected by the National Association of State Development Agencies as the official representative of the 50 states to encourage foreign businesses to locate manufacturing facilities in the United States. He traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East in the 1970's meeting with prospective manufacturers.
Throughout his professional career, his primary focus was promoting his home state of Arkansas nationally and internationally. As an outstanding statewide community leader, he was founder and chairman of the Southeast Arkansas Health, Education and Cultural Corporation. He served as president of Downtown Little Rock Unlimited, the Farm and Ranch Association of Arkansas and the Arkansas Arts Center School of Arts and Drama. He was chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Council, U.S. Department of Commerce District Export Council for Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce International Committee, the Arkansas State Council on Economic Education, the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Department of Area Development, the Arkansas Bankers Association Industrial Development Committee and the Regional Multi-Modal Transportation Systems. He was vice-chairman of the Arkansas Arts Center board of trustees and the Pulaski County Chapter of the American Red Cross; and district chairman of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a board member of the Southeast Arkansas Vocational Technical Institute, the Arkansas State Advisory board for Vocational Education; the Urban Progress Association and Youth Homes, Inc. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Second Presbyterian Church.
After retirement, Mr. Williamson's interests included woodworking and gardening. He enjoyed crafting unique writing pens and other artistic items using native Arkansas woods from locations with historical significance. His love of nature led him to become a master gardener.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Shepherd Williamson; his sons Adrian Williamson III, M.D. and his wife, Katherine, of Little Rock; Richard Shepherd Williamson of Holly Springs, Mississippi; Arthur Starr Williamson and his wife, Mychelle, of Little Rock; two grandsons, Adrian Williamson IV and Jonathan K. Williamson of Little Rock; and two sisters, Ann Young of Little Rock and Margaret Smalzel of Cohasset, Massachusetts. Graveside services will be at Roselawn Cemetery
on Tuesday, December 3, at 1:00 p.m. following by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church officiated by Reverend Steve Hancock and Reverend Karen Akin. Visitation will be at Ruebel Funeral Home Monday, December 2, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Adrian Williamson Cancer Memorial Fund, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, UAMS, 4301 West Markham, Slot 623, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72227, or to a charity of your choice.
Florence Ruth Helmbeck Williams
Florence Ruth Helmbeck Williams, age 93, of Little Rock, born
Christmas day, 1908, passed away September 16, 2002. She was a resident of Presbyterian Village. She graduated from North Little Rock High School and taught dancing at Dorothy Donaldson Dancing School before attending Little Rock Junior College. Florence married
C. Ray Williams, M.D. in 1931 and lived in Morrilton until moving to Little Rock in 1959. Her husband preceded her in death in 1991. She was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Florence was famous for her southern cooking and hospitality.
Florence is survived by her daughter, Ann Williams Anderson and husband Sam of Little Rock, grandchildren Stan and Debbie Bradshaw of Richardson, Texas, Diane and Mark LaRoe of Dallas, Texas, Ray Williams Bradshaw of Little Rock, and great-grandchildren Hamilton, Ann, and Trotter LaRoe all of Dallas, and Brad and Patricia Bradshaw of Richardson, Texas.
There will be a graveside funeral service today, Wednesday, at 11 A.M. at Roselawn Cemetery
officiated by Reverend Jeff Hampton. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials should be sent to Arkansas Alzheimer's, 10411 West Markham, Little Rock 72205, or the charity of your choice.
