Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Charles H. "Charlie" Peach, Jr.
Charles H. "Charlie" Peach, Jr., 84, of Hot Springs Village, died Monday, July 4, 2005 at U.A.M.S. in Little Rock.
He was born in LaGrange, Georgia on October 12, 1920 to the late Charles H. Peach, Sr. and Hattie Yates Peach. He served his country in World War II in the Army Air Corps, in the 97the Bomb Group, and was a member of the Crew of the Red Gremlin B-17 Bomber. He was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, a Navigator of the 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Men's Club of Sacred Heart. He was a member of the Hot Springs Village American Legion, and retired from the William T. Stover Co. after 30 years as a Sales Representative.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, John Peach, and a brother, James William Peach.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marcella Drilling Peach; a son, Herb Peach and wife Becky of Little Rock; daughters, Elizabeth Peach of Boulder, Colorado, Joan Siepiela of Dallas, Texas, Becky Thurman and husband Walter of Little Rock; grandchildren, Jessica and Sarah Price, Lauren and Kelsey Siepiela, Maggie Peach, and Mason and Michael McBroom.
A wake will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5 with a rosary to follow at 5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Hot Springs Village. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 6 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, with entombment to follow at 1:00 p.m. in the mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery, Little Rock.
Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, Little Rock.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, or to the American Heart Association.
Kenneth Maurice Parks, Sr.
Bro. Kenneth Parks, Sr., 45, of Little Rock, departed this earthly life July 30, 2005. He was born April 22, 1960 to the late James Parks, Sr. and Johnnie Parks.
Kenny accepted Christ early in life, united with Clear Lake Baptist Church in England, Arkansas. He and his family later became associated with the Greater New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ronald Young.
Kenny was employed for 26 years as a Pathology Tech and Supervisor at U.A.M.S. where he remained faithful and dedicated until his death.
Kenny was a proud parent and was very active in his sons' lives as a basketball coach for Brady Elementary School. He served in Dads of Good Kids Club at Wilson Elementary School, a faithful PTA member of Southwest Middle School. He received many trophies and special awards for his faithful services.
Kenny served as a soldier in the United States Army.
Kenny is greatly missed. He leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Johnnie Parks; his wife of 25 years, Elnora Stephens Parks; children, Sherry McClure Parks, Terry McClure Parks (Rassia), Kenneth Maurice Parks, Jr., and Eric and Deric Parks, all of Little Rock; grandchildren, Reginald Dunn, Jr., Quinton Thomas, Jr., and Reavyn McClure Parks; Eight brothers, Johnny L Parks (Vicki), Lawrence Parks, of Little Rock, Arthur Jackson, Bobby Jackson (Juanita), Harold Jackson, Ray Parks (Dorothy) of England, Arkansas, James Parks, Jr. of Michigan, and Calvin Parks of Texas; Two sisters, Deloise Davis of Michigan and Jessie Mae King (Donnie) of Little Rock; Five sisters-in-law Bernice Wallace, Beverly Rhodes, Clara McCuin of Maumelle, Bettie Young of Little Rock; Three brothers-in-law Clair Stephens, Craig Stephens, and Floyd Forte; a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends.
Kenny shared in the lives of nieces and nephews Telisa Criswell, Rhonya Jackson, Craig Stephens, Jr., Isaac and Tracey Strong, Ernest McCuin, Courtney Wallace, Jessica Wallace, and Sheree Forte.
Kenny, a kind, gentle, but yet serious person. He smiled sometimes, but he had a big heart. If you needed money, a car, or even a place to stay, he was always willing to help others. If Kenny had it, you could get it. He always had an open door to his children. Not only his but others. He helped to raise others as his own - his nieces, nephews, even a neighbor's child. He gave all of himself in so many ways. Kenny was one that you could depend on. Kenny can be defined as a people person - he loved people, he loved to talk - he never met a stranger. He was very serious about his work - he worked all the time, seemed to always be on call. Kenny was a true humanitarian yet he was a simple man, down to earth - said what he had to say and that was it. Never negative, but a positive attitude. If it could be done, he believed he could do it. The glue that kept things together, the backbone everyone looked up to; a mentor, a counselor, just a good friend. We know Kenny for rubbing his head, whether he was talking, thinking, or just watching television. Kenny had a faith in God that was seen in his actions in his life.
A wake will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. today at Greater New Hope Baptist Church, Little Rock, followed by homegoing services at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at East Macedonia Baptist Church in England.
Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Patricia "Pat" Farrand Overton
Patricia "Pat" Farrand Overton, 82, of Little Rock died Sunday, July 31, 2005. She was born in Whittier, CA to Susan Newton and Hugh Charles Adams. She attended Pomona College, class of 1944. Pat was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, the Adult Choir, Exultation Ringers, and the Seeking Spiritual Nourishment Sunday School Class. She was past president of the Little Rock Musical Coterie and Arkansas Opera Theater Guild, historian of the American Guild of Organists, Central Arkansas Chapter, and Central District President of Arkansas Federation of Music Clubs. She was also a former member of Arkansas Youth Orchestras Advisory Board; Colonial Dames XVII Century, John Eliot Chapter; Daughters of the American Revolution, Mary Washington Chapter; Board of Directors of KLRE/KUAR; Historian, Arkansas Chamber Singers Board of Directors; Arkansas Herb Society and the Booklovers' Club.
Pat is survived by her husband Charles Robert Woods Overton, her children William Conrad Webster and his wife, Sandi of Sunol, CA; Lauren Alden Harvey and his wife Sue of Quartzhill, CA; Charles Webster Overton and his wife Linda of Richmond, VA; Eloise Harvey Lawrence and her husband Paul of Crownsville, MD; and Helena Overton Train and her husband Peter of Mechanicsburg, PA; grandchildren, Christina, William, Christopher, Jennifer, Brian and Kevin; great-grandchildren Gwynneth and Kylie Sue.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church by Rev. Jim Miller. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Arkansas Nature Conservancy. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Michael Joseph Nesbitt
Michael Joseph Nesbitt, 50, of Little Rock, was fortified with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church on Saturday, July 2, 2005, from injuries sustained in an accident.
Born in Fayetteville on March 4, 1955, Michael was a 1973 graduate of Hall High School, attended St. Louis University, and was a member of the Catholic Church.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Gerald and Juanita Nesbitt, of Little Rock; his mother, Carla (Sadlo) Hogue, of St. Louis, Missouri; brother, Mark Nesbitt of St. Louis; sisters, Monica Watts, Michelle Bement and husband Paul, all of St. Louis, and Melanie Binz of Boston; and many other family members and a host of friends - Mike never met a stranger!
A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at Ruebel Funeral Home. At Michael's request, his body will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date by Hoffmeister Funeral Home, 1515 LeMay Ferry Rd. in St. Louis.
Local cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous, Wolf Street House, 1210 Wolf Street, Little Rock.
Walter Ben Lessenberry
Ben Lessenberry, age 41, of Little Rock, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2005.
Ben was born on April 26, 1964 in Little Rock to Judge Jack L. and Agnew Pippin Lessenberry. Ben graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1983. He was an excellent student and particularly excelled in math. Ben earned an academic scholarship to the University of Arkansas where he pledged Sigma Chi. He later attended UALR.He was an avid Razorback fan and loved to follow the Hogs through thick and thin. He marriage Heather Wilcher in 1989. Ashley Kaitlin, the light of Ben's life, was born of that union. Ashley was always in Ben's heart if not by his side. Ben began his career in the investment business at Powell and Satterfield, then Stephens Inc. and most recently worked at Calton and Associates.
To know Ben was to love him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and would light up a room with his infectious smile. Ben's cleverness was only outweighed by his love for family and friends. He knew no strangers. His boyish charm and attitude made him the perfect playmate for his niece and nephew, who would always want to know when was their next visit with Uncle Ben. He protected his family with his knowledge of the financial market. What Ben believed in, he believed it with a passion. He had no unachievable goal if his heart chose the path. He was a fierce competitor. Ben will be deeply missed by the many whose lives he has touched.
Ben was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ben and Mary Lessenberry and Walter and Amelia Carnahan.
Ben is survived by his daughter, Ashley Lessenberry; mother, Agnew P. Lessenberry; father, Jack L. Lessenberry and his wife, Rhonda; and brother, Jack L. Lessenberry Jr., all of Little Rock. He is also survived by his sister, Blair Hundahl of Houston; sister, Leigh Ann Lessenberry McCann, Ph.D., brother-in-law, John McCann, niece, Molly and nephew, Mason, all of Austin.
Services will be held on Friday, July 29, 2005, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., in Little Rock.
Cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Recovery Centers of Arkansas, 1201 River Rd. North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114; CARE for Animals, Inc, 3001 Kavanaugh, Little Rock, AR. 72205; Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc., 1210 Wolfe St., Little Rock, AR. 72202.
May Ben rest in peace knowing he is loved and is missed.
Virginia Watson Simpson
Virginia Watson Simpson, age 82, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, August 16th, 2005, the widow of Dr. Henry Simpson who died in 1994. She was born in Willow, Dallas County, Arkansas and graduated from Carthage High School and received her Registered Nursing degree from Baptist Hospital, Little Rock, in 1945. Thereafter she joined her husband during his post graduate training and assisted him throughout his private practice of Internal Medicine in Little Rock. She was a member of the State Board of Nursing, and Auxiliaries of the Pulaski County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Arkansas Medical Society and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Virginia is survived by 2 sons; N. Henry Simpson, III and wife Melanie of Dallas, Tom Simpson and wife Heidi of Silver Thorne, Colorado, two daughters; Becky Haines and husband Chuck of Winter Park, Colorado Mary Daily and husband Richard of Branson, Missouri, one sister Sara Galloway of St. Louis, Missouri, 12 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
There will be a funeral service at Ruebel Funeral Home at 1pm Friday, officiated by Reverend John Fleming. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to St. Vincent Infirmary or St. Paul United Methodist Church.
James D. Simpson, Jr.
James D. Simpson, Jr. of Little Rock was born on March 16, 1912 in Little Rock, and died on Friday, August 5, 2005. He was the only son of Ruth Bales Simpson and James D. Simpson, Sr. He attended public schools in Little Rock and graduated high school from Western Military Academy in Tennessee after having spent one year at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. Mr. Simpson attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO and graduated in 1933 with a BSBA degree; he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He continued his education at LRU and received a law and LLB degree in 1935.
Mr. Simpson served in the United States Navy during 1942-1944 and was stationed in Pittsburgh, PA. He returned to Little Rock to join his father and Vernon L. Jackson, Sr. at the company they founded, Tuf Nut Garment Manufacturing Company. There he served as Vice President and Treasurer until the Simpson and Jackson families sold Tuf Nut in 1966.
Mr. Simpson was a Board Member of Arkansas Easter Seals, the Country Club of Little Rock, and Capital Savings and Loan Company. He was also the Chairman of the Little Rock Airport Commission during the construction of the present terminal in 1970-1971.
He had many "favorite things" to do: duck hunting, fishing, attending auto races as well as University of Arkansas football games. He was one of the original members of Button Willow Hunting Club in Lonoke, AR and a senior member, as was his father, of Tuf Nut Hunting Club in Gillett, AR. His favorite of these hobbies was whichever was next. He certainly instilled that enthusiasm onto those that were around him - tomorrow was always going to be a great day.
Jimmy's memory will be cherished by all of those who loved him. His quick smile and wry sense of humor will be greatly missed. He was a man of the utmost integrity and discipline, characteristics that he attempted his entire life to bestow upon his sons. As a part of those disciplines, he believed that a man should be a gentleman at all times. It was by that mindset that he lived his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Ellen House Simpson. He is survived by two sons: James D. Simpson, III, and his wife, Ginna Simpson: and Joseph Warren Simpson; three granddaughters: Jody Simpson Thompson, Clarke Simpson Delp and Ellen Garrett Simpson; and three great-grandsons: Russ Thompson, Townes Delp and Warren Delp.
The family will be at home at #18 Armistead Road on Monday, August 8, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The family requests that memorials be considered in lieu of flowers to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W. 17th Street, Little Rock, AR 72206. There will be a private graveside service. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
