Haskie Lee Ripper
(December 31, 1918 - June 3, 2012)
Haskie Lee Ripper age 93 of Bismarck died Sunday June 3, 2012. She was born in Wood County Texas December 31, 1918 the daughter of William F. and Eula Estelle Scruggs Blake. She retired from banking in the loan department after 25 years. She was a former member of Cornerstone Baptist Church and a member of Unity Baptist Church. Mrs. Ripper was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Joseph Ripper and a daughter, Linda Kay Beckham.
Survivors include one son Larry J. Ripper Sr. of Arkadelphia, one daughter, Madeline Harmon and her husband Dale of Bismarck, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10 AM Tuesday, June 5th in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel in Arkadelphia with Brother Larry Newsom officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Monday at the funeral home.
Thelma Sue Land
(January 23, 1942 - July 10, 2012)
Thelma Sue (Susie) Land, age 70 of Hot Springs, passed from this life on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born on January 23, 1942 in Malvern, the daughter of Glen and Thelma Behrens Efurd. Susie attended Mt. Bethel Church in Arkadelphia. She was a floral designer and owner of the Flower Shop in Malvern for many years. Susie also worked many years as a nurse for Dr. White in Malvern and Dr. Scarbrough in Gurdon. She was co-owner of Lands Pools, Spas and Billiards until her retirement in 2008. Susie was preceded in death by her father, Glen Efurd, her step-father, Elwood McCray, and her son, Randy Land.
She is survived by her husband, Harroll Jerry Land of Hot Springs, her son, Ronnie (Tammy) Land of Curtis, her mother, Thelma McCray of Malvern, daughter in law, Belinda Land of Hot Springs, two brothers, David (Claudia) Efurd of Oregon and George (Connie) Efurd of Malvern, one sister, Donna (Sam) Allen of South Dakota, six grandchildren, Justin (Nicole) Land of Okolona, Jessica Land (Jeremy Luker) of Hot Springs, Kristin (Aaron) Cupp of Arkadelphia, Kenzi Land of Arkadelphia, and Lane and Cheyenne Jester of Gurdon, two great grandchildren, Mason and Dixon Land of Okolona and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 13, 2012 at Welch Funeral Home with Chad Cox officiating.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home.
Honoarary pallbearers are Derek Lester, Steve Allen, Mike Sanders, Carlon Phillips, Donald Benson, Dean Palmer and Baptist Medical System.
Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 904 Autumn Road, Suite 500, Little Rock, AR 72211.
Services are entrusted to Welch Funeral Home.
Stephen Patrick Hudson
(Died July 7, 2012)
U.S. Veteran
Stephen Patrick Hudson age 52 of Arkadelphia died Saturday July 7, 2012 in Houston, TX. He graduated from Arkadelphia High School in 1978 and later from Ouachita Baptist University. Stephen served his country as an officer in the United States Army and as a civilian map maker for the government.
He was baptized in 1972 at the Church of Christ in Arkadelphia and lived a life of high moral fiber. Stephen was an extraordinary gentle and unique soul, well loved and sorely missed. He was preceded in death by his mother, Kathleen Winburn Hudson Freeman.
Survivors are his loving father, Ivan F. Hudson, three brothers, John, Robert and Michael Hudson, his wife Lisa, daughter, Rebecca Ann, sons Joshua and Andrew.
Private Interment will be held in Rose Hill cemetery in Arkadelphia.
Local arrangements entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Ross Stroope
(August 3, 1947 - November 29, 2012)
Ross Stroope age 65 of Arkadelphia died Thursday. He was born August 3, 1947 the son of Leon and Juanita Buck Stroope. He was a retired maintenance supervisor for Baptist Health Systems and a member of the Richwoods Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister Ruth Stroope.
Survivors include one son, Jeff Craig of Magnolia, his mother Juanita Stroope of Arkadelphia, two nephews, Stephen Stroope of Odessa, TX and Earl Stroope of Galveston, TX.
Graveside funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, December 1 in the Richwoods cemetery near Curtis. Visitation will be 6-8 P.M. Friday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.
Ann Clingan
(March 21, 1939 - April 12, 2015)
Ann Clingan, 76, of Hays, Kansas formerly of Arkadelphia, passed away April 12, 2015 in Hays, KS. She was born March 21, 1939 in Gurdon, AR and her parents were Bill and Hazel Draper.
She grew up in Delight, AR and was a graduate of Delight High School. Ann later graduated from Henderson State University with a Masters in Social Studies. She was a beloved 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher and mentor at Cabe Middle School for many years. Ann cared greatly for each student that crossed her path and her impact was evident by all the hugs she received each time she walked into the Arkadelphia Walmart. She was a member of 2nd Baptist Church in Arkadelphia where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was a loving mother, teacher and friend and will be missed by many.
She is survived by her husband, W. Nathan Clingan, Hays, KS; her sons: Michael (Stephanie) Clingan of Loveland, CO, Timothy (Shelley) Clingan of Fayetteville, AR and David (Jessica) Clingan of Hays, KS; her grandchildren: John, Elizabeth, Savannah, Kelly, Meghan, Mallorie, and Michelle; her sister: Billie Buckley of Springfield, OR.
Services will be held 10: AM Friday, April 17th Arkadelphia 2nd Baptist Church with burial in Rose Hedge cemetery in Gurdon. There will be no formal visitation.
Roy D. Hammock
(July 29, 1922 - September 7, 2011)
Roy D. Hammock, age 89, of Grass Valley, California, formerly of Point Cedar, Arkansas, died Wednesday, September 7, 2011 in Grass Valley. He was born July 29, 1922 in Point Cedar, the son of the late Jasper and Delphia Jackson Boone Hammock. Roy was a retired timber man and U. S. Army Veteran of WWII.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Vernell Hill Hammock, one daughter, Virginia Edwards and her husband Larry of Grass Valley, two grandchildren, Denton Edwards of Portland, OR and Rebekah Edwards of Grass Valley, two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Anderson and Jesse Anderson both of Brookfield, MO; one great-great-grandchild, Christian Anderson of Brookfield, MO.
Graveside services will be 11 A.M. Monday, September 12th at Philippi cemetery with Dale Williams officiating. The body will lie in state in the Philippi Church from 10 A.M. until service time.
Leah Marks Wells
(Died June 2, 2011)
Leah Marks Wells age 93 died Thursday, June 2, 2011. She was born in the Hebron Community near New Edingburg, AR February 3, 1918 to Lydia Attwood and George Evan Marks. She graduated from Kingsland High School in 1934. She followed in the footsteps of her four sisters and one brother and graduated from Henderson State University in 1939. She taught first grade in Sheridan, AR for one year, then married
Duke Wells in 1940. They moved to Camden where he was coaching. In 1941 Duke became coach at Henderson. They continued to live in Arkadelphia after his retirement in 1978. Leah taught first grade in Arkadelphia for 24 years. They joined First United Methodist Church in Arkadelphia in 1942. She was a member of the Annie Maude Evans/Francis McClean Sunday School Class. Duke died in 1989. She was also preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, Clara Marks Sadler, Ruth Marks Buie, Hazel Marks Crews, Catherine Marks Riggan and one brother George Merriwether Marks and one nephew Bill Sadler.
She is survived by two children, John Duke Wells Jr. and wife Barbie and Leah Ann Wells Dawson and her husband Fred, five grandchildren, Wendy Wells Simpson (Tracy), John Duke Wells III (LeeAnn), Leah D'Ann Dawson Fimple (Keith), Deborah Dawson Kelley (Jay) and Dan Wells Dawson, seven great grandchildren, Ethan Floyd Simpson, Colson Wells Simpson, Kellan Duke Wells, Leah Grace Fimple, Brock Dawson Fimple, Caleb Jay Kelley, Samuel Patrick Kelley and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Also a wonderful family friend, Jimmie Sawyer.
Leah, wife, mom, mamaw, was a loving and caring person. Her home was always open especially on Saturdays during football season. She loved her family, friends, church and Henderson. She loved the players that Duke coached and the students. They were a great team together.
Private graveside services will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens at 10:30 Saturday, June 4. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Saturday in the First United Methodist Church in Arkadelphia with Rev. Carroll Jackson officiating. There will be no formal visitation.
Memorials may be made to Henderson State University, First United Methodist Church, Arkadelphia Group Living, Hospice or Charity of your choice.
Mary Ellen Smith
(May 8, 1930 - August 16, 2011)
Mary Ellen Cook Smith, age 81, of Arkadelphia, died Tuesday, August 16, 2011 in Hot Springs. She was born May 8, 1930 in Boswell, Arkansas the daughter of the late Edgar and Lillie Cook. She was a homemaker and a member of Third Street Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, James D. "Pete" Smith on July 15, 2011. Three sisters, Faye Lingelbach, Ruby Hughes, Belle Houck; four brothers, Doyle, Don, Neil, and R. T. Cook and one grandson, Adrien Terry also preceded her in death.
Survivors include two sons, Steve Smith and wife, Lisa of Malvern, Danny Smith of Friendship; eight grandchildren, Amber Feemster, Chris, Jason and Melissa Smith, Shannon Pritchard, Derek Smith, Josh and Jacob Terry; five great-grandchildren; Ashton and Madison Ivy, Brayden Pritchard, Kamren Terry and Natalie Smith; one sister, Doris Billingsley of Norwalk, Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Friday, August 19th at Third Street Baptist Church with Rev. Greg Latham officiating. Interment will be in Golden cemetery. Visitation will 6-8 PM Thursday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Third Street Baptist Church.
Christene Wilson
(September 10, 1933 - June 30, 2012)
Maudie Christene Wilson, age 78, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at her daughter's home. She was born on September 10, 1933 in Curtis, the daughter of the late Charlie and Fairy Berry Craig. In addition to her parents, Christene was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Wilson, four brothers, Harlie, Arlie, Austin and Tony Craig and one sister, Carlene Ledbetter Smith.
She is survived by four daughters, Mary (Phillip) Shepard, Judy (Michael) Ross, Karen (Robbin) Burrow and Malenia (Tony) Derry, four sons, William (Avis) Wilson, David (Margie) Wilson, Tony (Shirley) Wilson and Timmy Wilson, one brother, Shelby (Lynnetta) Craig of Arizona, twenty-five grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at Harts Chapel cemetery with Rev. Rick Mays officiating.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Monday.
Pallbearers will be Troy Akers, Richard Catlett, Tony Bell, Jack Wilson, Alan Wilson and Pete Bonner.
Arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
