Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Vada Cook Ott Stegall
Vada Cook Ott Stegall, 101, of Little Rock, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died 
on Thursday, January 16, 2003. She was born
on January 18, 1901 in Higginson (White County) Arkansas to Robert Allen Cook and Ethel Johnson. Mrs. Stegall was a homemaker and a member of Winfield United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her sons, Frank Ott and wife Sara of Wintergreen, Virginia and Elwood Ott and wife Betty of Farmington Hills, Michigan. A stepson, C.W. Stegall Jr. and wife Betty of Little Rock and stepdaughters, Margaret Whitehead of Little Rock and Alice Halter and husband Milton of North Little Rock. Four grandchildren and Eight great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Monday, January 20, 2003 at Ruebel Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a Graveside service following at 3:00 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park officiated by the Reverend David Bentley. Memorials may be made to Winfield United Methodist Church, 20100 Cantrell Road. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Odette Jenkins Lee Woodson
Odette Jenkins Lee Woodson, age 89, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, July 2, 2003. She was born
in Beebe, Arkansas March 10th, 1914, youngest daughter of John R. Jenkins and Flora Belle Kelley. A pioneer key-punch operator Ford Bacon and Davis and the Veteran's Administration Regional Office and Hospital, retiring in 1996 after 30 years of service with the V.A. She was a member of Highland Valley Methodist Church for over 60 years, a charter member of the Fideles Sunday School Class, United Methodist Women and numerous circles. She was a member of the Acropolis and Bicentennial Charters of the ABWA.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husbands, Smith M. Lee in 1965 and Melbourne E. Woodson in 1971, brothers Vollie and Benny Jenkins; sisters, Lucy Rogers, Alice Jenkins and Helen Wilkerson. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Lee Stephens of Little Rock, 3 nieces Sue Wiseman of Searcy, Barbara Nowlin of California, Loretta Chandler of North Little Rock, a nephew Charles Rogers of California, one grandson, William M. Helms, Jr. of Little Rock, granddaughters Sarah Helms Piwonka and husband Max of Memphis, Lee Anne Helms, of Little Rock, six great-grandchildren, Beth, Trey and Ben Helms, and Emily, Megan and Mallory Piwonka. There will be a graveside memorial service Thursday, July 3rd, at 2 pm at Pine Crest Cemetery
officiated by The Reverend Peggy Bosmeyer. Arrangements are under direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church Alter Guild urn fund and Highland Valley United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the daughter's home following services.
Madge Light Woodford
Madge Light Woodford, age 91, of Little Rock, died peacefully Monday, November 24, 2003. She was born
in Russellville, Arkansas where she graduated from high school. She later attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville before graduating from LRU, now U.A.L.R. receiving her BA degree in Education. She was married
in 1941 to William Irving Woodford, Sr. who died in 1982. Mrs. Woodford taught first grade at Jefferson Elementary School retiring after more than 10 years of service. She loved being with her family and her hobby was needlepoint. She was a member of Pulaski Height United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Butler Sunday School Class.
She is survived by one son, William I. Woodford and wife Sherluf of Little Rock, one daughter, Mary Woodford Cochran and husband James M. Sculley of Little Rock, one sister Frances Williford of Crossett, Arkansas, two grandchildren, W. Scott Woodford and Ashley Borgsmiller, and one great-grandchild, Charles Borgsmiller.
There will be a memorial service Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church followed by a luncheon at the church. The service will be officiated by Reverend Jeff Hampton. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to Methodist Children's Home, 2002 South Fillmore Street, Little Rock 72204.
Helen Winter Wilfong
Helen Winter Wilfong, “Nanny”, 72, of Bryant, Arkansas, went to a very special place where there will be no pain for her any longer, on Monday, March 3, 2003 at Baptist Medical Center. She was born
in Mississippi on May 2, 1930, moving to Arkansas in 1957. She was retired from the office of Dr. John Butler, DDS. Helen leaves behind two daughters, Carolyn Baxter of Bryant and Brenda Davis of Sheridan, four grandchildren, Toni Vanderwalker of Collinsville, OK, Shane Jobe of Hensley, AR, Jessie and Haley Wilfong of Benton, three great-grandchildren and three stepsons. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, two brothers, and a very special granddaughter Kimberly Hughes. Also known as “Ms. Helen” to so many people, she will be missed tremendously as a friend, teacher, listener and overall someone that cared for everyone she met. A visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Ruebel Funeral Home followed by funeral services at the Ruebel Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday with burial to follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park.
Edith Kilcrease Wilbourn
Edith Kilcrease Wilbourn, of Little Rock, died December 28, 2003. She was 85 years old.
Carrie Edith Kilcrease was born
on April 11, 1918, in the Ashley County village of Promised Land, Ark. to Eloise Mosely Kilcrease and Rel Thomas Kilcrease. After her father’s death, her mother married
Roy W. Morris and they moved to Little Rock where Edith Attended Forest Park Elementary and Pulaski Heights Junior High and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1936. She was faithful member of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church throughout her life.
She met Hugh R. Wilbourn, Jr. while he was organizing a coed church softball team for Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. The two married
at the church on June 14, 1936. The young couple lived in Forest City and Ft. Smith while Hugh Wilbourn worked for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
In 1943, the Wilbourns moved to Little Rock with their three young daughters. Hugh Wilbourn and his brother-in-law, C.B. Miller, started a telephone business called Communications Repair Service. In 1945 the name was changed to Allied Telephone and Electric Company. Allied went on to become a founding part of ALLTEL Corporation, which continues to be headquartered in Little Rock.
Edith and Hugh Wilbourn lived in Sheridan and Conway before returning to Little Rock in 1962. Edith was always active in her community, supporting Boy Scouts, many school activities and her church. She volunteered for the March of Dimes and worked for their Crippled Children’s Program for many years. She was a member of the Conway Garden Club and the Twentieth Century Club. She and Hugh were members of The Country Club of Little Rock.
Edith and Hugh especially enjoyed sharing their love for travel and boating with their family. They took each of their grandchildren to Washington. D.C. to see her two favorite museums, the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum and other area sites.
Other lifelong passions for Edith were music and drawing. A love of music was instilled in her at an early age by her parents, who were both musicians. Her sketches of children and nature studies in charcoal, watercolor and oil are held with love by her family. An avid athlete, she played tennis, volleyball, and softball in her youth and golf later in life. When she and Hugh retired to Florida, they enjoyed boating in the Florida waters. Their interest in boating fed her fascination in finding seashells, which fit in with her uncanny knack for spotting Indian arrowheads and four-leaf clovers.
Edith Wilbourn is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Jo Ellen and Joe T. Ford of Little Rock; daughter and son-in-law Beverly and Phillip Pascoe of Quitman, AR; son and daughter-in-law Hugh R. Wilbourn III and Judy of Little Rock; grandsons Scott Ford and his wife Dede, of Little Rock, Jonathan Pascoe and his wife, Lori of Rogers, AR, Jeff Pascoe and his wife Cindy of Conway, Dr. Steven Pascoe and his wife Mandy of Conway, Rob Moore of Arkansas City, AR, and Lee Moore and his wife, Amy of Little Rock; Granddaughters Rebecca Thompson and her husband Bruce, of Quitman, Allison Crawford and her husband Brad of Dallas, Susan Shaw of Norman, OK, Marguerite Tyson and her husband Terry of Lipscomb, TX, Sancy Thomas and her husband Al of Little Rock, Hayden Wilbourn of Little Rock; and 35 great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Marion Wilbourn Lovett.
She was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter, Mary Nell Shaw, and two brothers, William Morris and Russell Morris.
The family would like to express special appreciation to Edith’s longtime caregiver, Kathy Woods, Rosemary Beavers, Minnie Conley and Diane Foley. Special thanks to Dr. Pham Liem and the staff of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on aging, UAMS and to Marsha Cunningham and the staff of Parkway Village, who cared for her during a 17-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday at the Pulaski Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Munns officiating. Interment
will follow at Roselawn Memorial park.
Memorials may be made to the Donald W. Reynolds Center, UAMS, the Quapaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, or the Wilbourn Center at Parkway Village.
Pat Whitley
Pat Whitley, a resident of Berryville, Arkansas was born
February 14, 1930 in Little Rock, Arkansas a daughter of Olin F. and Thelma (Daniels) Ramoly. She departed this life Monday, August 18, 2003 in her home at the age of 73.
Mrs. Whitley was a charter member of the Living Faith Church in Berryville where she served as secretary for several years. She was past president of Association for Retarded Children in Kansas and worked as the bookkeeper for the Passion Play in Eureka Springs.
On May 21, 1950 she was united in marriage with Jack Whitley who survives her of the home. She is also survived by two sons, Davis Whitley of the home and Mark Whitley San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Karyn Whitley of the home; her mother, Thelma Ramoly of Little Rock, Arkansas; a brother, Olin and his wife Judy Ramoly of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a sister, Ann and her husband Bill Fulk of Little Rock, Arkansas; several aunts and uncles, many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at the Living Faith Church in Berryville with Bro. David Keith officiating. Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003 at Ruebel Funeral Home with interment
to follow at Roselawn Cemetery
in Little Rock. Little Rock service and internment arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. Local arrangements were by Nelson Funeral Service.
Governor Frank D. White
Former Arkansas Governor Frank D. White, 69, of Little Rock, born
on June 4, 1933 in Texarkana, TX, died on May 21, at his home in Little Rock. He will be remembered as a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, leader and friend. His smile, voice and heart were larger than the man. He generated laughter and good will with every person he touched and was selfless in his donation of time and efforts for charity.
Born in Texarkana, Texas, he was the son of the late Ida Clark Kyle and the late Durward Kyle and was adopted by Mr. Loftin White after his father's death when Frank was a young boy. His adoptive father passed away when Frank was 14. He was also preceded in death by his sister Lady Maude Dalton.
Frank White grew up in Texarkana, and received his high school diploma from the New Mexico Military Institute during his high school years. After attending Texas A&M for one year, he was appointed by U.S. Sen. John McClellan to the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned into the United States Air Force upon graduation from Annapolis. He flew C-130s during his military career and later was a major supporter of Little Rock Air Force Base. After five years of service in the Air Force, he moved in 1961 to Little Rock and began his financial services and banking career with Merrill Lynch and Commercial National Bank. In 1975, Governor David Pryor appointed him to the Governor's Cabinet as director of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, AIDC. White promoted the State's economy and opened Arkansas' first international office in Brussels, Belgium, during his AIDC tenure. Returning to the private sector in 1977, he became president of Capital Savings & Loan, resigning in 1980 from that position to successfully run for Governor of Arkansas. In a major upset victory, White defeated then-incumbent Bill Clinton. During his two-year term in office, he focused his efforts on initiating business practices in state government, highlighted the vocational/technical education system, and promoted economic development through trips across the U.S. and to Japan in efforts to recruit new business and expand existing business in the state. He was instrumental in forming the partnership between UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital, now recognized worldwide as leading medical research and care facilities.
He returned to the private sector in 1983, joining Stephens, Inc., an investment banking firm. After unsuccessful 1986 bid for Governor, he worked for First Commercial Bank in Little Rock until Governor Mike Huckabee appointed him State Banking Commissioner in 1998, a post he held at the time of his death. He was an active and respected Banking Commissioner, visiting every state chartered bank in Arkansas, shortly after his appointment.
He was devoted to community and civic leadership for more than 40 years, serving as president of the Arkansas Jaycees, president of the Little Rock Downtown Rotary Club 99, and on the Boards of Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Little Rock Port Authority, Baptist Hospital Foundation and many others. A popular emcee for special events, he was a catalyst for successful fundraising events benefiting charitable organizations such as Easter Seals and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Last July, he joined Governor Huckabee and six other former Governors for an unprecedented event to benefit the Governor's Mansion. His humor and candor was a major highlight for the standing room only event.
He is survived by his wife, Gay, daughters, Elizabeth White and Rebecca Chavez of Portland, Oregon, son Kyle and daughter-in-law Kelly White of Burke, Virginia, and four grandchildren, Tristan, Tyler, Julia White of Burke, Virginia, and Daniella Chavez of Portland, Oregon.
He will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 23. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m. at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock with burial following at Mount Holly Cemetery
under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to:
Family Life, 3900 N. Rodney Parham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212; or
Special Fund, Fellowship Bible Church, 12601 Hinson Road, Little Rock, AR 72212; or
Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, 4301 West Markham Street #748, Little Rock, AR 72205; or
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR 72202; or
Baptist Hospital Foundation, 9601 Interstate 630, Little Rock, AR 72205.
