Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Esther Gammon Warner
Esther Gammon Warner, age 96, of Little Rock, wife of Fred B. Warner, died Monday, June 13, 2005. She was born March 16, 1909 in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Charles and Mary Ellen Gammon. Esther and Fred were marriage in Central Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, September 13, 1930. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
She is survived by her husband, Fred B. Warner, Sr. of Little Rock, son Fred B. Warner, Jr., of West Palm Beach, Florida, one brother, Charles D. Gammon of Washington, D.C. and 2 grandchildren, Kathleen W. Coghlan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Christopher D. Warner of Reno, Nevada, and daughter-in-law Bridget W. Warner of Little Rock.
There will be a graveside service Thursday, at 10am at Rose Lawn Cemetery, officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be sent Hospice Home Care of Little Rock.
Frances M. Williams
Frances Melville Williams, of North Little Rock, passed away June 21, 2005 at Lakewood Nursing and Rehab. She was born September 16, 1912 in Portland, Oregon to the late Henry Melville Williams, II and Edna Danner Williams.
During WWII, Ms. Williams was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Following the war, she became a career Civil Service Employee, working at Ft. Roots Veterans Administration Center in North Little Rock. She was employed there for some 30 years, and became Chief of the Ward Administration Division during the final years of her employment, just prior to her retirement.
Ms. Williams was intellectually curious and widely traveled, having made many trips to interesting places in the world such as Alaska, the Orient, Egypt, and Europe, among others. She was an expert equestrian in her younger days and delighted in animals of all types. A confirmed dog lover, she regularly supported the Humane Society and other worthy causes. She was a volunteer with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile and a member of St. Luke Episcopal Church, where she participated in the church choir. She was also a volunteer assistant at the Respite Center, operated at St. Luke as an ecumenical service to shut-ins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Henry Melville Williams, III; sister, Kathleen Williams Campbell, and brother-in-law retired Brigadier General Wm. Peyton Campbell, formerly of Searcy.
Survivors include a niece, Ms. Teri Campbell King, MSSW, of Dallas, Texas, and two great nephews, Christopher Campbell King and Davies Carter King, owners of the Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast in Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Williams will be greatly missed by her many friends, near and far.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2005 at Edgewood Memorial Park, 2400 Division, North Little Rock, officiated by Father Keith Gentry. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Humane Society or St. Luke Episcopal Church, in Ms. Williams' memory.
Norma Jean Bloom Siar
Norma Jean Bloom Siar, 79, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at St. Vincent Infirmary. She was born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania on August 14, 1925 to the late Aaron and Lena Briggs Bloom. She was a teacher and homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. She received her B.A. from the Clarion State Teacher's College in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James David Siar, and a daughter, Shelby Balser.
Survivors include her son, David Siar and wife Sheryl of Greensboro, NC; daughter, Laura Holyfield of Little Rock; sister, Ruth Beam and husband Cameron of Dallas, Texas; brother, Robert Bloom and wife Audrey of Florida; grandchildren, Emily Siar and Joshua Siar, both of Greensboro, NC.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Pennsylvania. Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd. Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305.
Louis Rosen
Louis Rosen, age 99, of Little Rock, died Thursday, June 8, 2005. Mr. Rosen was born in Little Rock, where he graduated from high school, Class of 1921. He later graduated from Arkansas Law School in 1925. Louis started his insurance career as a Special Agent with Hardy and Company and Anderson and Company, Inc., General Agents. In 1935 he became a partner with the Williams & Rosen Insurance Company serving as President and Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1970. Louis was a former Chairman of the Little Rock Planning Commission, former director of Steco Corporation, former member of the South Central Regional Educational Laboratory, former trustee of Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation, past president of the Arkansas Association of Insurance Agents, past president Arkansas Children's Hospital, past president of Downtown Rotary Club 99, past president of Temple B'nai Israel and was a member of the American, Arkansas and Pulaski County Bar Associations. He also served in U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946 obtaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Louis was known as a true gentleman who gave quietly and tirelessly.
Louis is predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Vivian B. Rosen, and is survived by a daughter Sallye R. Mann of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a son Brooks L. Rosen of Little Rock, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service at 2pm today, Friday, at Temple B'nai Israel officiated by Rabbi Gene Levy. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to Temple B'nai Israel, 3700 Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, AR 72212-2498, or the charity of choice.
Family friends will be received at #6 River Oaks Circle, Little Rock.
Marjorie Crenshaw Ridley
Marjorie Crenshaw Ridley, age 88, of Little Rock, died Friday, June 10, 2005. She was born in Beedeville, Arkansas where she attended public schools. After her marriage to Homer Joe Ridley, who died in 1994, she spent time as a homemaker raising four children. The family moved to Newport in 1945 where Marjorie was a very active member of First Christian Church serving as an Elder. After her retirement from the United States Census Bureau of the Commerce Department she moved to Little Rock in 1995 becoming an active member of First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed life, especially her devotion to her family, was a renowned cook, and a life long "Yellow Dog" Democrat.
Marjorie is survived by two sons; Gene Ridley of Boulder, Colorado, John Robert Ridley of Okinawa, Japan, two daughters; Carolyn Ridley Ross and husband Owen of Little Rock, Susan Ridley Woodyard and husband Bill of Little Rock, and dear friend James Wilkerson Case, III of Detroit, Michigan, 12 grandchildren; Debra Ann Riley and husband Tim, William Lindley Ridley, Beth Ridley Vance, Graham Beall Dobbins, Richard Ridley Dobbins, Stephen Loren Dobbins, Ann Carolyn Dobbins Mortenson and husband Jim, William Henry Lee Woodyard, IV and wife Peyton, Helen Woodyard Brown and husband Kevin, Erlyn Santos Castro, Michael Robert Ridley, Patrick David Ridley, 13 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and predeceased by a grandson, James Michael Ridley.
There will be a memorial service Tuesday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church officiated by Reverend Howard Gordon. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to First Christian Church of Newport, Arkansas, First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, Arkansas Hospice, and Pulaski County Humane Society.
Grace Grimme Lindsey
Grace Grimme Lindsey, age 88 of Little Rock died Tuesday, June 28, 2005. She was born and raised in St. Louis. She later met Robert Lindsey also of St. Louis. They marriage in 1943 and moved to Little Rock. Grace was a member of Second Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir, a member of PEO, Pleasant Valley Country Club, and was very active at the Shepherd's Center now LifeQuest. She was an avid bridge player, loved sewing, especially needle pointing, and loved to cook and travel.
Grace is preceded in death by her husband Robert Sours Lindsey who died in 1991. She is survived by a son, Bruce R. Lindsey of Little Rock, a daughter Carol J. Lindsey of Pass Christian, Mississippi, a sister-in-law Ruth Lindsey of Little Rock, and her two granddaughters, Sarah Lindsey of Little Rock and Katie Lindsey of Charlottesville, Virginia.
There will be a graveside service at 10am Friday at Rose Lawn Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11am at Second Presbyterian Church officiated by Reverend Steve Hancock. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock 72114.
Nicholas Joseph Koch, III
Nicholas Joseph Koch, III, 64, of Little Rock, died June 28, 2005 at St. Vincent Infirmary. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 1940 to the late Nicholas Koch, II and Florence McNeil Koch. He was a 1959 graduate of Catholic High School, an avid Razorback fan, and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Baxter Koch; daughter, Debra Kay Scharf and husband Jeffrey of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and a sister, Lucille Paladino of North Little Rock.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2005 at Geyer Springs United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Deanna McCormick.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, www.lungusa.org.
Cremation and service arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Garland H. "Gary" Jones
Garland H. "Gary" Jones, age 53, of Little Rock died on Friday, June 24, 2005. He was born on June 1, 1952 in Fort Smith, AR to the late Garland and Myrtle Lancaster Jones. He graduated High School in El Dorado, AR and college from Hendrix College in Conway. He taught school in the Little Rock School District for many years and later worked as an Insurance Agent with Allstate Insurance.
He is survived by his two sons, Garland H. "Casey" Jones and Robert "Bobby" Werner Jones; two sisters, Betty Linda Nolan of El Dorado, AR and Suzanne Perry of Providence, RI; one niece, Carrie Nolan Koch of Dallas, TX, three nephews, Robert C. Nolan Jr. of Tuscaloosa, AL, Dr. Justin M. Nolan of Fayetteville, AR, and Brett Perry of Fairhaven, MA.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham, Little Rock, AR at 2:00PM today followed by a reception. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to The Kidney Foundation of Arkansas National Affiliate, 1 Lile Ct, Little Rock, AR 72205
Marilynn "Sonny" Houston
Marilynn "Sonny" McRae Houston, 90, of Little Rock, died June 8, 2005 after a long illness. She was born February 13, 1915, the daughter of the late Dr. Washington McRae and Ruth Pemberton McRae. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Gaines N. Houston, who died in 1990.
Sonny traded her violin for a tennis racquet after her graduation from Central High School and steadily climbed the ladder toward expertise in the game. She won the Tri-State Championship in El Dorado and went on to win the Missouri Women's Championship, which made her "Net Queen" in 8 states in 1937. All through 1937, 1938, and 1939, she was invited to play in the National Tournament in Forest Hills, New York and was finally ranked 17th in the nation. The best player she played was Sarah Polfrey-Cooke, national champion at the time - but she said her most exciting match was one she and her partner played against Ms. Cooke and her partner, Alice Marble.
During World War II, Sonny enlisted in the Red Cross overseas program because she felt girls were needed to work Red Cross facilities for service men and she wanted to do her part. She was assigned to Panama and was among the first group of young women permitted on the Isthmus. After returning to Little Rock, she began giving tennis lessons as a profession, being the first tennis coach in the state. She was once the coach of the Junior Wightman Cup Team. She leaves a legacy to the many men and women she taught because she not only taught the basic strokes of the game, but the characteristics of sportsmanship and fair play. One of her students once told her that she not only was taught tennis, but was taught lessons about life - "two for one!" - and Sonny replied with the gentle sense of humor, "maybe I should have charged more!"
Sonny was a licensed small plane pilot, a bowler, golfer, ping-pong expert, and a good homemaker. She was a member of the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame and later was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
She is survived by her brother, John Pemberton McRae, of Scott; cousin, Molly Boyd and husband Kit; nieces, June Finley and Ann Crosby; great-nieces, Caroline Morgan and Laura Whitley; great nephews, David Collins, Jr. and John Collins.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. today, Friday, June 10, 2005 at Christ Episcopal Church officiated by the Reverend Larry R. Benfield.
Cremation and Memorial Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Col. Glenn Rd., Little Rock, 72210.
