Last updated
Tuesday, 11-Sep-2018 03:30:21 MDT
Classmates Obituaries - Letter R
These obituaries correspond with the yearbooks that are listed on this website. Whenever possible, the source of the obituary will be shown as well as the date.
Rainwater, Theodore Rodger,
Jr. - Theodore Rodger Rainwater, Jr., 76, of Hot Springs, Arkansas,
passed away peacefully at Arkansas Hospice Monday November 25, 2013.
He was born October 19, 1937, in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Theodore Rodger
and Edna Mae (Logan) Rainwater.
He is preceded in death by his parents
and sister, Jennifer Hughes.
Survivors include daughter, Wendy Rainwater;
brother, Merril Rainwater; sisters, Julie Liter and Susan Bullock.
At
Theodore’s request, no services will be held. His cremated remains will
be interred at Tranquil Cemetery. [from Caruth-Hale Funeral Home online
obituary] [Class of
1955]
Ramseur, William Henry "Rick,"
Jr. - William Henry "Rick" Ramseur Jr. died February 13, 2013,
at his Traverse City, Michigan, home. Born June 3, 1932, in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, he was the only child of Bertha Rose (Phillipi) and William Henry
Ramseur Sr. Rick was raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He graduated from
Hot Springs High School and then attended the University of Arkansas, earning
his Bachelors Degree in 1954.
Following graduation from the university,
Rick joined the Group Department of Aetna Life Insurance Company as a Home
Office Representative. His first assignment was in San Francisco, California,
where Rick achieved outstanding success in sales of Employee Benefits to
west coast companies. In 1965, Rick was transferred to the Aetna's Corporate
Office where, using his business knowledge and strong interpersonal skills,
he continued to achieve superior results. In the late 1980's, with an excellent
reputation and respect throughout the organization, Rick was asked to assume
a critical role in Field Management as Aetna moved to a managed care organization.
Rick retired as an Assistant Vice President in 1991, completing 37 years
of outstanding service to Aetna Life and Casualty.
Rick is survived
by his wife of 40 years, Mary Gaylord Keator Ramseur, his daughters and
sons in law, Liza (Bullard) and John Shaban of Redding, Connecticut, Gretchen
(Bullard) and Tobin Fraser of Traverse City, Michigan, and Allison (Bullard)
and Eddie O'Keefe of Traverse City, Michigan. He is also survived by eight
grandchildren, Jack, Henry and Danny Shaban, Sierra, Wiley and Payson Fraser,
and Katherine and Nicholas O'Keefe.
Loyalty, genuine friendship and
engaging interest in colleagues were hallmarks of his leadership that will
be remembered by his friends of many years. Rick would remain an avid Razorback
his entire life. He navigated BBQ joints as well as he navigated a golf
course.
At Rick's request, there will be a private family celebration
of his life on Friday, February 22, 2013. Stories about Rick or messages
for the family can be directed to Gay at
[email protected].
In
lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice and sent to Munson
Healthcare Regional Foundation, 210 Beaumont Place, Traverse City, MI 49684
or www.munsonhealthcare.org or to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian
Street, Stuart, FL 34997 or www.tchospice.org.
The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation
Service of Traverse City, MI where thoughts, photos and condolences can
be posted at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
[from Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home online obituary]
[Class
of 1950]
Rankin, Katherine Elizabeth Precise
- Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" Precise Rankin, of Hot Springs, passed away
Sunday, October 11, 2009, at her home surrounded by her loved ones.
She
was born July 8, 1929, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to the late C. E. and Lillian
King Precise Sr. She received her education at Hot Springs High School,
graduating in 1947. She and her first husband owned and operated Thornton
Awning Company for many years and later she opened her antique shop called
Katie's Corner. After selling her shop, she went to work at Arkansas Bank
and Trust, retiring in 1995. She was preceded in death by her parents; her
first husband, Jack Thornton; brother, Chalmers E. Precise, Jr.; and a granddaughter,
Brandy Cranford.
She is survived by her husband, Chester Rankin, whom
she married on May 16, 1998; son, Jim (Denise) Thornton, of Hot Springs;
daughter, Pamela Kay Cranford, of Pine Bluff; three grandsons, Jody (Jessica)
Thornton, of Fayetteville, Brian (Paula) Cranford, of Sheridan, Shaun (Ginnie)
Cranford, of Woodlawn, Arkansas; granddaughter, Jamie (Matt) Charboneau,
of Fayetteville; and four great-grandchildren. Graveside services were 2
p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Bud Reeves officiating.
Funeral arrangements were by Cranford Funeral Home in White Hall.
[from the Sentinel-Record, October 14, 2009, page 7A]
[Class of 1947]
Rapley, Betty Jane Williams
- Betty Jane Rapley, 87, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, passed away peacefully
on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 after a brief stay at the Arkansas Hospice in-patient
center at Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs.
She was born on September 1,
1924, in Burkesville, Kentucky, to Thomas Earle Williams and Mary Jane Williams.
The family moved to Hot Springs in 1940 and owned and operated the Saint
Charles Hotel on Park Avenue.
Betty attended Hot Springs High School
and was the Class of 1943 Salutatorian. Following the death of her father
in 1943, Betty continued to operate the Saint Charles and care for her mother
who had been disabled by severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Betty joined First
Federal Savings (later Landmark Savings Bank) in 1970, eventually becoming
an Assistant Vice President and managing the bank's Malvern Road and Mall
branches in Hot Springs.
She was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi,
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the First United Methodist
Church of Hot Springs.
Betty was predeceased by her husband of 60 years,
David Rich Rapley, and she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jane
and Mike Cottrell of Glenwood, Maryland; grandsons Kyle and William Cottrell;
granddaughter Catherine Cottrell; son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Tammy
Rapley of Brentwood, Tennessee; grandson David Rapley II; and numerous cousins,
nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 4,
at the First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs followed by a memorial
service at 2 p.m. with Rev. Dr. William Reeves and Rev. David Wilson officiating.
Following the service, the family will be receiving friends and relatives
at 284 Ledgerwood Road in Hot Springs.
Memorials in lieu of flowers
may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Avenue, Hot
Springs, AR 71901. [From Gross Funeral Home online obituary]
[Class
of 1943]
Rather, Walter Douglas "Doug"
- Walter Douglas "Doug" Rather, 72, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away on
Tuesday, August 5, 2014.
Born January 17, 1942, to Walter L. and Elizabeth
Walker Rather, Doug graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1960 and Henderson
State University in 1965. In 1968, he completed his Masters of Social Work
from the University of Missouri at Columbia. In 1965, he married Shirley
Weatherly of Tillar, Arkansas; they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary
in June 2014.
For more than 30 years, Doug utilized his great love and
concern for others as a social worker for the Veterans' Administration,
where he retired as Chief of Social Work. He loved music, sports, history,
nature and the outdoors - especially when shared with family. He is survived
by his beloved wife, Shirley Weatherly Rather; his children, Staci Phillips
(Mike Desola) of Rogers and Mason Rather (Claire Curley) of Maplewood, N.J.;
by his mother, Elizabeth Walker Rather, and brother, John Rather (Becky)
of Little Rock; and his grandchildren, whom he adored, Cole and Caroline
Phillips of Rogers, and Sam and Lily Rather of New Jersey.
A visitation
service will be held Sunday, August 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rollins Funeral
Home, 1401 W. Hudson Road, Rogers, Arkansas 72756.
Committal of ashes
and graveside service will be held Monday, August 11, 3 p.m. at Crestview
Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 3077 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901,
with Dr. Bill Brown officiating. The family will receive friends before
the committal of ashes from 1 to 2:30 p.m. across the street at Crossgate
Church, 3100 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901.
The family
requests that expressions of sympathy be sent to the Court Appointed Special
Advocates for Children (CASA), 3825 Cawood Lane, Springdale, Arkansas 72762;
or the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, 614 E. Emma Ave., Suite
119, Springdale, Arkansas 72764. [from Rollins Funeral Home online
obituary] [Class
of 1960]
Ray, Anna Sue Ward - Anna Sue Ray, 86, of Hot Springs went home to be
with the Lord on September 11, 2014. She was born August 22, 1928, in Hot
Springs to Luther and Essie Ward. She was a member of Leonard Street Baptist
Church. Anna Sue retired from Kroger.
She is predeceased by her parents,
husband, Bobby L. Ray, a sister and a brother; and niece Misty Ingle.
Loving
survivors include her nieces, Margaret Headley, and Marnita Torres; nephews,
Donnie Page, Dale Page, Mike McGue and Greg Ward.
Visitation will be 9:00
a.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home with graveside
services following at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Pastor
Andrew Gonzalez officiating. [from Caruth-Hale Funeral
Home online obituary] [Class
of 1946]
Ray, Hurlon C. - Hurlon C. Ray, 87, of Lonsdale, died
July 25, 2008. He was born April 25, 1921, in Owensville to the late Jack
and Willie Maine Ray. Hurlon attended Saline and Garland county public schools,
Arkansas Tech University, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Utah State
University, Yale University, USDA Graduate School, Washington, D.C., and
the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va. He was appointed as
a Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging by Gov. Tucker in 1995,
served as a member of Metroplan-Central Arkansas Regional Transportation
Study, Legislative Chairman Arkansas State Federation of National Association
of Retired Federal Employees, chairman in 1998 of Arkansas Natural Heritage
Commission, Board of Directors of Arkansas Wildlife Federation, Arkansas
Public Policy Panel, 10 year member of Saline County Planning Commission,
Saline County Public Facilities Board, and was an active citizen working
for improving Hwy 5 and construction of a scenic turnout on Hwy 5. He was
instrumental in helping secure funds for the Owensville and Paron Water
Association. Hurlon was a member of the Owensville Baptist Church. He served
in the Marine Corps during WWII in the South Pacific.
He was preceded
in death by his wife, TyJuana Ray.
Survivors, sons, Harold Ray, Daryl
Ray and Gaylon Ray, brothers, D. L. Ziegler, J. R. Ziegler, grandchildren,
Heather Schmidt, Wendy Ray, Greg Ray, great grandchildren, Jazz Schmidt
and Nick Schmidt.
Church Services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 10:00
a.m. Monday at Owensville Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Sherman officiating.
Burial will follow at Owensville Cemetery...
In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the Owensville Cemetery Association or Saline Memorial Hospice
at Bryant.
Family comments: Hurlon published over 100 technical papers
dealing with environmental pollution control and received EPA'S Distinquished
Service Award. He was one of the principal architects of the Clear Water
Act. He did not let retirement slow him down, at 82, he was deeply involved
in what he called the most important fight of his life: Clearing up the
Middle Fork of the Saline River, the Central Arkansas Waterway where he
and four generations of his family grew up on. Hurlon was a lifetime Honorary
member of the White Oak Springs Hunting Club of Princeton, Arkansas. He
will be deeply missed by family and friends. [Ashby Funeral Home online
obituary] [Fountain Lake Class of 1940]
Reed, Mike - Mike Reed, 89,
was born to the marriage of Charles Reed and Corinne Etchevarne in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, February 28, 1907.
A graduate of Hot Springs High School, Mike
was associated in the plumbing business since 1925 and became a partner
in Reed Plumbing Supply Co. in 1944 and established Reed Butane and Appliance
Co. in 1948. He was a member of the committee that wrote the first Arkansas
State plumbing code and held one of the first Master Plumber cards issued,
MP 0010.
During World War II, Mike worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where
he contributed to the Manhattan Project that developed certain parts of
the first atomic bomb.
Mr. Reed was active in community affairs for many
years and was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge, a member of the Lions
Club, and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
He was predeceased
by his wife, Fay Coston Reed.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law,
Siste and Ken Crawford; two grandchildren, Mikah and Matthew Crawford, all
of Hot Springs; a sister, Corinne Cash of Sonoma, California; and a nephew,
Milton E. Nobles, Jr., of Hot Springs.
Funeral services will be at 2
p.m. today in the chapel of Gross Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Greenwood
Cemetery.
The family will be at the home of Ken and Siste Crawford.
[from the Sentinel-Record, date unknown] [Class
of 1925]
Rider, Kathryn Smith Campbell - Kathryn Smith Campbell Rider was born Aug. 5, 1942, and passed away on Aug. 4, 2014, in Oklahoma City. She was born to Cleveland and Edith Smith in Hot Springs. She was preceded in death by her mother, father and brother, Cleve Smith, and her maternal grandparents, Pat and Kathryn Pollard, and her Aunt Patricia Wall (Joel) and Uncle Ralph Houghton. She was one of Jehovah's witnesses and a nurse. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Donald Rider; two sons, Jimmy Campbell and (Kathy), Scott Campbell (Krista); and granddaughters Brittany and Brianna Campbell; stepsons David Rider and Frankie Hughes; stepdaughters Debi Raymer, Kathy Kennedy and Becky Mahorney; cousins Joel Wall (Debbie), Kathy Crone (Jim) and Cheryl Warren; nephew Jacob Smith; and her beloved Cali cat. [from the Sentinel-Record] [Class of 1961]
Ridgeway, Pearl Lane - Pearl Lane Ridgeway, 87, a lifelong
resident of Hot Springs died on Monday, August 17, 2009, at her home.
She was born March 11, 1922, to Lenora Ethel Cook Lane and Walton Y. Lane
in Hot Springs.
Mrs. Ridgeway was a lifetime member of First United Methodist
Church, past president of the Garland County Historical Society, past president
of Ramble School PTA, a member of the Melting Pot, retired manager of the
Downtown Visitors Center for the Advertising and Promotion Commission of
Hot Springs, and recipient of the Hot Springs Diamond Award in 2003.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Bill Ridgeway, Sr.; one
sister and brother-in-law, May and Sammy Zorub.
Survivors include one
son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Darla Ridgeway, Jr., of Hot Springs; one
daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Dr. Greg Foster of Vienna, Virginia;
one nephew, Dr. David Zorub of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; seventeen grandchildren
and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday,
August 26, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with
Dr. William O. Reeves and Dr. David Wilson officiating.
Pallbearers will
be Keith Foster, Kurt Foster, Marc Ridgeway, Matthew Ridgeway, Jeffrey Lynch,
Joshua Lynch, Drew McCurry, Zack McCurry and Donnie Reynolds.
Honorary
pallbearers are Dr. Nizar Suleman, Dr. Timothy Webb, Dr. James Gardner,
Bob Ridgeway, Mike Ridgeway, Bill Crone, Merek Rowe, Jim Buckner, Dr. David
Zorub, David Nichols, Austin Wade Ridgeway, Don Bridges, Matt Roberts and
T.J. Hughes.
Entombment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum.
Memorials have been designated to The Arkansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen
For the Cure, Attn: Elizabeth Clark, Financial and Missions Director, 904
Autumn Rd. Ste 500, Little Rock, AR 72211 or Paws and Claws, P.O. Box 20254,
Hot Springs, AR 71903.
Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home.
[Hot Springs Funeral Home online obituary] [Class
of 1940]
Robbins, Lanny Sydney - Lanny S. Robbins of Hot Springs
died Friday, September 4, 2009, of respiratory failure from post bulbar
polio syndrome. Born April 15, 1938, in Hot Springs, to John H. and Lillian
Reader Robbins, he graduated from Hot Springs High, Arkansas Tech, and Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff
College. He served 10 years active duty in the Adjutant General Corps including
Vietnam (1968-69), followed by the Defense Intelligence Agency, The Pentagon,
and the Armed Forces Courier Service in Washington, D.C. On August 19, 1972,
he gave his heart to Jesus Christ, and in May 1973 entered seminary. He
then completed military service as an Active Reserves Chaplain and retired
with honors in June 1990. He served in Des Moines, Iowa, 1976-83, where
God used him to found Good News Mission ministry in the Polk County Jail,
CrossRoad Ministries in the Ft. Des Moines Correctional Facility, and a
Southern Baptist church. In 1985-86 he was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church
in Kearney, Nebraska. He returned to Hot Springs in July 1986, where he
was Founding Chaplain of Garland County Jail Ministries and became Chaplain
Emeritus in 2001. Lanny's heart's desire until his final breath was to honor
God and share his faith in Jesus with everyone who crossed his path.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marguerite Holzer Robbins; two daughters
and sons-in law, Julie and Jeff Frady of Wichita, Kansas, and Tricia and
Scott Murrish of Kearney Nebraska; six grandchildren, Joelle and Jana Frady
and Jarrad, Natalie, Noah, and Ethan Murrish; a sister and brother-in-law,
Betti and B. Winstead; a stepmother, Vera Threadgill Robbins; and several
nieces and nephews. The service will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September
9, at First Baptist Church, Hot Springs, with Reverends John McCallum and
Bill Carter officiating. A military honor guard will attend the interment
at Crestview Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Rev. Gary Jones, Ben Hooten,
Tony Cordiale, Norman Mason, and Jarrad and Noah Murrish. Honorary pallbearers
are Jeff Frady, Scott Murrish, J. E. Sanders, St. Joseph's Cardiac Rehab
nurses and class members, and Caleb Men's Sunday School class.
Memorials
may be made to Garland County Jail Ministries, P.O. Box 725, Hot Springs,
AR 71902 or to Royal Family Kids Camps, 3108 9th Ave., Kearney, NE 68845.
[from Gross Funeral Home online obituary] [Class of 1956]
Ross, Patricia Ann Rouse - Patricia Ann Ross, age 77,
of Malvern passed away Monday, August 18, 2008, in a local hospital. She
was born April 17, 1931, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Al Rouse and Dicie
Marsh Rouse. She was a member of First United Pentecostal Church in Malvern.
Patricia had worked as an Avon sales representative.
She is survived
by: 1 son, Ronnie Allen Rhouse of Dallas, Texas; 1 daughter, Diane Hurst
of Malvern, Arkansas, 1 sister, Betty Louise Black of Point Cedar, Arkansas;
6 grandchildren, Chad, Christa, Heath, and Heather Hurst Lauren and Hayden
Rhouse; 1 niece, Rene Morgan; 1 nephew, Clay Black
Funeral services
will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, August 21, 2008, at the First United
Pentecostal Church with Reverend J.,E. Peters, Reverend Patrick Hancock,
and Reverend Ronnie Hutson officiating.
Interment will be in Memorial
Gardens Cemetery in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Pallbearers are Brandon Morgan,
Dietrich Morgan, Clay Black, Chad Hurst, Hayden Rhouse, and David Avington.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Pentecostal
Church, 1524 Wilson Street, Malvern, AR 72104.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Atkins Funeral Home of Malvern (501) 332-2711. [Atkinson
Funeral Home online obituary] [Class
of 1949]
Rynders, Franklin Eugene
- Franklin Eugene Rynders, 68, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on Saturday,
February 14, 2009. Born the son of Nellie Dickey Rynders Hildebrand and
Delbert Rynders on August 3, 1940, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Frank graduated
from high school in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1958. He served in the Navy
during 1958. He married Lucy Faye Forsyth, his wife of 47 years, on February
23, 1961, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Frank and Lucy owned The Market Place
grocery store in Denison, Texas, for many years, until retiring in 2006.
Frank and Lucy moved to Tulsa in 2008 to be closer to their family.
He
is survived by his loving wife, Lucy; beloved daughter, Kami Lee Rynders
Hoar and husband Richard of Tulsa; granddaughter Elayne; brother James Delbert
Rynders of Hot Springs; dear nephew John Rynders of Hot Springs who is loved
as a son; as well as many other nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by
his parents; sisters, Margaret Rynders and Mary Rynders Ellis; brother Herbert
S. Hildebrand.
Private services will be held at the Rogers-Mountain Grove
Cemetery, Huckleberry Mountain, Logan County, Arkansas.
the family requests
memorial contributions to St. Francis Hospice, 6600 S. Yale Ave 350, Tulsa,
OK 74136.
Services are under the direction of the Ninde Funeral Directors,
Brookside Chapel. [Sentinel-Record; February 18, 2009] [Class
of 1958]