VINCENT J. GENTUSO
June 15, 1916 - February 21, 2013
On February 21, 2013, Vincent J. Gentuso, 96, of Hot Springs passed to the life hereafter, completing a long journey that began with his birth on June 15, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois to Guiseppe and Lucia Gentuso.
During his lifetime he was a source of knowledge and inspiration for many.
His shared wisdom will be an influence for years to come.
He was a WWII veteran and was proud of his service to his country.
Vincent was an entrepreneur having owned bowling alleys, bakeries, commercial real estate and an investment loan firm.
He retired as a master machinist from the State of Illinois in 1978 and moved to Hot Springs Village later that year.
He was predeceased by three wives, a sister and one daughter.
Vincent was Dad and Father to nine children, twenty grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
The family heritage continues through his son, Vincent J. Gentuso, Jr.
Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home, 155 Section Line Road, Hot Springs, AR.
The memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home with Pastor John McCallum officiating.
Interment will be in the Gentuso Family Crypt at Crestview Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The family would like to thank his caregivers, Dr. Mark Lefler and the staff at National Park Medical Center for providing comfort and peace of mind in the last few years of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations be made to support the Jessieville School District Foundation, P.O. Box 4, Jessieville, AR 71949.
Robert J. "Rob" Dubbelde
September 19, 1969 - February 23, 2013
Robert J. 'Rob' Dubbelde, 43, of Hot Springs Village passed away February 23, 2013.
He was born September 19, 1969 in Hastings, Nebraska to Robert and Carole Dubbelde.
Rob attended Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas and continued his education graduating from the University of Texas, Arlington in 1993.
He went on to law school at the University of Texas, Austin and graduated the Law Review in the top five percent of his class.
Rob worked with Vinson/Elkins in Austin before becoming a partner with Greenberg Traurig in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rob loved the law & helping people.
He enjoyed water skiing, golf and hiking.
Rob was a sports enthusiast and loved the water and the great outdoors.
Rob is survived by his parents, Bob and Carole Dubbelde of Hot Springs Village; sister, Kimberly Bailey of Bedford, Texas; nephews, Shane and Austin Bailey and Ashton Price, all of Bedford, Texas; niece, Alyssa Price of Bedford; 96 first cousins; and many aunts and uncles.
He also leaves behind many dear and close friends.
Rob was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.
Thank all of you for your support and love during this difficult time.
We are planning a memorial service for Rob’s immediate family and friends this week in Texas and at a later date in Philadelphia.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rob’s memory may be made to: LifeGift, an organization that strives to save and enhance lives by maximizing organ and tissue donation: LifeGift North Region, 1701 River Run, Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1990&AID;=1646 or
The Wildlife Conservation Society, Attn: Donation Services, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, 800-250-1662 donate@wcs.org
Mernell Erwin
September 2, 1939 - February 27, 2013
Mernell Erwin, 73, of Malvern, went home to be with the Lord on February 27, 2013.
She was born September 2, 1939 to Willie and Ella Faye (Rackley) Henry.
She was a devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mernell was affectionately known as the 'Lunch Lady' by the children she loved and prepared food for at Magnet Cove School.
She is predeceased by her parents, sister, Ruby Frances Henry, sister, Helen Goodrich and great-granddaughter, Harlee Buttrum.
Loving survivors include her husband of 29 years, Lawrence Erwin, of Malvern; daughter, Jeanell (Harlan) Buttrum, of Mt. Ida; daughter, Belinda (David) Boyett, of Mt. Pine; daughter, Kim (Jason) Meeks, of Jessieville; daughter, Cora Hooper, of Oklahoma; brother, John Henry, of Mt. Ida; brother, David (Sally) Henry; of Frisco, Texas; sisters, Margie (James) Bailey, of Pearcy; Virginia Terry, Jean (Ron) Coffeen, Loretta Huggins, Mary (Levi) Kelley, of Hot Springs, Margaret (Freddy) Sears, of Lonsdale; brother and sister-in-law, Calvin and Linda Erwin, of Cabot; 9 grandchildren, Lance, Schelly, Jilinda, Heather, Kelli, Zoe, Taylor, Doug and Stephanie; 12 great-grandchildren, Abbie, Brinlee, Laynee, Matt, Autumn, Landon, Calob, Makenzie, Andrew, Kaylee, Abby and Anny; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Sunday, March 3, 2013 at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home, Hot Springs.
Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, March 4, 2013 at the funeral home with Bro. Levi Kelley and Bro. Sam Ault officiating.
Pallbearers are Tracy English, Gene Kelley, Larry Bailey, Harlan Buttrum David Boyett and Jason Meeks.
Honorary pallbearers are the ICU Staff of National Park Medical Center, Dr. Edward Warren and Staff and Dorothy and Buck Campbell.
Lesa Harrison
December 9, 1954 - February 28, 2013
Lesa Harrison, 58, of Jessieville passed away Thursday, February 28, 2013.
She was born December 9, 1954 in Hot Springs to Bill and Marcell Stultz.
Lesa was a selfless person who always put others needs before her own.
She was known in the Village as that 'Great Cook' down at the 19th Hole, but her true passion was her grandchildren.
Lesa was her 'Daddy’s' bright and shining star and she will be missed by her family, friends, pets and everyone she came in contact with.
She is predeceased by her mother, Marcel Stultz.
Lesa is survived by her husband, Rudy Harrison of Jessieville; father, Bill Stultz of Jessieville; daughters, Cynthia Anderson (Donnie) of Hollis and Marcie Prince (Todd) of Bismarck; brothers, Larry Collier (Joan) of Hot Springs and James Stultz (Debra) of Jessieville; and grandchildren, Adrienne and Alex Prince and Andrew Anderson.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday at Caruth Village Funeral Home with Bro. Jimmie Dale Johnson officiating.
Pallbearers include Chris Ragan, Jason Stultz, Donnie Anderson, Kevin Collier, Arlie Harrison and Donnie Tabor.
Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice.
Lilian Donnally Williams
October 28, 1913 - February 23, 2013
Lilian Williams, 99, passed away at home in Hot Springs Village on February 23, 2013.
Fourth of eight children, she was born to Frances and Walter Bowman on a farm in Wabash County, Indiana, on October 28, 1913.
After graduating from business college, she went to work for the Lincoln Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 1938, she met and married
J.B. Donnally, who was working as an actuary at the company.
Due to nepotism rules at Lincoln at the time, she quit and got a job at the WPA at a salary of $125/month, the same amount her new husband was earning with his Masters degree from the University of Michigan.
They had two children, Patti and John, while living in a little house on 3 acres of land in Fort Wayne.
In 1950, J.B. took a job with Pan American Life Insurance Company and they moved to New Orleans.
Pan American did significant business in Latin America, so they traveled frequently to countries in Central and South American on business.
Lilian studied Spanish and, when the wife of the company's President was unable to do so, gave a speech to a roomful of convention delegates in their native language.
In 1962, J.B. joined the American International Group in Hong Kong.
They loved their five years there which included travel throughout the Far East and, in fact, all over the world.
Their next AIG assignment was in New York City followed by one in Wilmington, Delaware.
In 1971, at the age of 57, J.B. decided to retire, so they set out by car to investigate various places where they might settle.
They first stopped in Little Rock, AR, to see their daughter and her husband.
Patti suggested that they look at a new development nearby, Hot Springs Village.
They did - bought a lot - and went no further.
They moved into the Village in January 1972, joining only 125 other full-time residents.
At first, they rented a house on Lake Desoto before it had even been dammed and filled; they later moved to a house on Sonora Way.
By the time the utilities were brought to the lot they had bought to build their dream house, J.B. was fighting cancer and the dream was never realized.
Lilian founded the Women's Golf Association in the Village; she loved playing golf and collected several trophies along with two holes-in-one over the years.
In 1978, J.B. passed away, and Lilian spent the next five years traveling.
She married
Lester Williams in 1983 and moved into his Hot Springs Village home on El Espinar Lane where they lived until moving to Good Samaritan Cedar Lodge in 2004.
They are members of the Woodlands Presbyterian Church.
Lilian is survived by her husband, Lester Williams, and by her two children, Patti Leathers (and husband John Brunk) of Overland Park, Kansas, and John Donnally (and wife Phyllis) of Dallas, Texas, along with six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four stepchildren, and many step-grandchildren, as well as two sisters and a brother.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, J.B. Donnally, her mother and father, one sister, and three brothers.
Lilian was definitely an original; her sense of style, exuberant humor and overall pizazz are unequaled.
We will celebrate her extraordinary life at the Woodlands Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs Village on March 10th at 1:00pm.
Her ashes will be interred in the Woodlands Memorial Garden as well as in Restland Memorial Gardens in Dallas, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Arkansas Hospice Foundation or to Woodlands Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs Village, AR.
