Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972
Richard A. Sullivan
Richard A. Sullivan, 67, of Bella Vista, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. He was born May 28, 1934, in Graceville, Minn., to Vincent Lawrence and Charolette Wiley Sullivan.
He was a Catholic. He moved to Bella Vista from Graceville, Minn., in October 1990. He was a 19-year member of the Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Lois Sullivan; two sons and daughters-in-law, Brian and Tracy Sullivan of Grambrills, Md., and Dennis and Tracy Sullivan, of Bella Vista; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patty and Leon Sibson of St. Cloud, Minn., and Michele and Roger Sobiech of Bella Vista; two sisters, Delores Miller of Graceville, Minn., and Mary Ellen Grossman and husband, Ollie, of Morris, Minn.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Graveside funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 5, in Graceville, under the direction of Larson Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Bella Vista Public Library, 11 Dickens Place, Bella Vista, Ark. (72714).
Leslie 'Bud' Vendl
Leslie "Bud" Vendl, 84, of Bella Vista, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at Bates Medical Center in Bentonville. He was born July 3, 1917, in Cicero, Ill., to Frank and Elsie Benes Vendl.
He worked at Maramont Corp. of Chicago for 20 years. He owned and operated Gary Spring Co. in Gary, Ind., for 16 years and worked at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Ind., for 12 years.
He moved to Bella Vista in August 1985 from Merrillville, Ind. He was a member and deacon at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Gary for one year; at St. Bernard Catholic Church of Bella Vista for four years; and at St. Stephen Catholic Church of Bentonville for 12 years.
He was preceded in death by a son, Thom F. Vendl; and a sister, Vilma Bartuska.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Bernice Zila Vendl; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Ronald L. and Linda Vendl of Valparaiso, Ind., and Michael J. Vendl of Cincinnati; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at St. Stephen Catholic Church of Bentonville, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at St. Stephen Catholic Church with the Rev. Father Mike Sinkler and Monsignor Richard Oswald officiating.
Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Memorials may be made to St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1300 N.E. J St., Bentonville, Aek. (72712); or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Betty Loree Williams
Betty Loree Williams, 82, of Gravette, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at Gravette Medical Center Hospital. She was born July 12, 1919, in Gorman, Texas, to Ford T. and Bruce Pyles Cavin.
She married Ralph Hollis Williams on April 29, 1939, in Terrell, Texas.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Gravette and the Order of the Eastern Star. She worked in health care services as a nurse's aide. She enjoyed doing ceramics and oil and water color painting.
Survivors include three sons, Ralph C. Williams of Rogers, Thomas E. Williams of Destin, Fla., and Gregory A. Williams of Bella Vista; a daughter, Gayle Williams of Gravette; a brother, Floyd T. Cavin of Winslow, Ariz.; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravette with the Rev. David Williams officiating.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Service of Gravette.
Lawrence E. Botteron
Lawrence E. Botteron, 71, of Bentonville, and formerly of Kansas City, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born Feb. 5, 1932, in Kansas City, Kan., to Ernest and Goldie Foster Botteron.
He was a member of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Mo.
Music was a major part of his life. He played trumpet in a dance band in Bella Vista from 1949 to 1950. He enjoyed Kansas City jazz.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Katie Beth Craig.
Survivors included his wife of 52 years, Anne Wagner Botteron; four daughters, Denise Bauer of Missouri City, Texas, Jamie Williams of Thornton, Colo., Kimberly Botteron of Bentonville and Lisa Craig of Bloomfield, Colo.; a brother, Leonard Botteron of Phoenix, Ariz.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at a later date at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. Arrangements are by Benton County Funeral Home of Bentonville.
Darlene Ann Diaz
Darlene Ann Diaz, 48, of Seligman, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, at her home. She was born Jan. 5, 1955, in Carlyle, Ill., to Lyle and Grace Sanders Miller.
She moved to northwest Arkansas at an early age and attended schools in Garfield and Pea Ridge. She was a homemaker and ran a flea market, Second Hand Rose, with her son for five years.
She enjoyed the woods, hiking and looking for mushrooms.
She was preceded in death by her father; and a brother, Gary Miller.
No services are planned. Cremation was under the direction of Williamson Funeral Home of Cassville, Mo.
John A. Gard
John A. Gard, 81, of Bella Vista, died Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, at Innisfree Skilled Care Center in Rogers. He was born Feb. 2, 1922, in Beaver Crossing, Neb., to Alvin John and Ruth Pratt Gard.
He married Jean Harris on Aug. 27, 1949. He received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., receiving the AIA Award for graduating with the highest scholastic honors in aero-engineering. He also attended Washington University in St. Louis and studied applied mechanics.
He worked for McDonald-Douglas Corporation from 1948 to 1978. As project strength engineer, he was assigned to projects such as aircraft (military and transport), helicopter, missile and spacecraft structure. His expertise as an analyst was in the structural analysis of primary airframe and spacecraft structures, control systems, mechanisms, hydraulics and propulsion systems, high pressure tankage, high temperature missile structures, heat shields and thermal protection systems and helicopter rotors.
Following his employment with McDonald-Douglas, he worked as a contract engineer for Boeing Aircraft Corporation performing stress analysis on the B-52, and also on the design of a new pylon for mounting the cruise missile. He is listed on the National Air and Space Exploration Wall of Honor at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
He enjoyed golf, bridge and flying model airplanes.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Gard; a son and daughter-in-law, Larry P. and Sydney Gard of Washington, Mo.; a daughter, Mary Kay Gard of Arlington, Texas; three brothers; four grandchildren; a niece and four nephews.
Visitation was from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry R. Williams officiating.
Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorials can be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Box 8111, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, Mo. (63110); or to First United Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, Ark. (72714).
