Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Kenneth Wayne “Dink” Gentry
Kenneth Wayne “Dink” Gentry, age 78, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Saturday, September 19, 2020 at his home.
He was born July 21, 1942 in De Queen. He operated Gentry’s Trading Post for over 60 years, he was a car dealer and enjoyed trading watches and pocket knives.
Mr. Gentry was preceded in death by his parents, Earn and Maggie Mae Shaw Gentry; and his wife, DeLois Bailey Gentry.
He is survived by two sons and their spouses, Bud and Misty Gentry and Jimmy Ray and Shelly Gentry, all of De Queen; one sister, Sue Bailey; five grandchildren, Trey Gentry and his fiancé Bailey of De Queen, Trent Gentry and Raven Havens of De Queen, Halley Gentry of De Queen, Ashley Sharp of Fayetteville, and Cassady Sharp of De Queen; one great grandson, Tripp Gentry; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Gentry will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2020 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in De Queen with Bro. John Henry Williams and Pastor Ray Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in Redmen Cemetery.
General viewing will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26th at the funeral home.
Thomas “Warren” Wilson
Thomas “Warren” Wilson, age 96, resident of Tyler Texas and formerly of De Queen, passed peacefully from this life and into the arms of his Lord and Savior, on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 with his grandson, Darren Van Meter by his side.
Warren was born to William Henry Wilson and Eva Lee Wilson on June 22, 1924. He served in the US Army during WWII with the military police, and then a Tailgunner on B29’s, while
stationed in the South Pacific with the 315 Bomb Squad. He was honorably discharged in December of 1946. He worked for the US Postal Service from January 1947, until his retirement in 1979. During his retirement, Warren stayed busy serving and doing for others. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Tyler TX. He loved his church and volunteering there. He was also passionate about and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and the Salvation Army. He loved gardening, could grow just about anything, and there was not a thing he couldn’t fix. He was a man with many talents, a heart of gold and was highly respected, and loved dearly by his family. Warren had a heart for serving and caring for others and did so until the week before his death.
During his retirement, he and his wife Nobie were primary caregivers for her daughter, Patricia, while raising her 2 sons, Darren and Theron, as his own. He cared for Nobie until her death in 2012, and was caring for a special friend, Mary Lou Bourns until his recent illness and death.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters; Helen Kent, Ortha Mae Cooper, Lucille Ray, a brother Mansel Wilson, his wife of 40 years, Nobie Martin Wilson, her daughter, Patricia Van Meter, grandson’s Kevin Van Meter, Parks Johnson, and a daughter in law, Janet Lowrey.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his sister Carol Wilson Morrison, a son, Richard “Rick” Wilson and wife Donna, 2 step son’s Larry Farquar and wife Patricia, and Ronald Lowrey. Grandchildren; Bradford Wilson (Vickie), Darren Van Meter (Joanne), Theron Van Meter, Trent Johnson, Carol Wade (Ron), Rhonda Burton (Mike), Sandy Huntsberger, Leah Harper (Joey), and Brett Lowrey. Great grandchildren include Corbin, Tyler, Logan, Jake and James Wilson, Kelsey Wade, Tyler and Reagan Burton, Thomas “Tommy” Van Meter, Carrie VanMeter, Brittney Van Meter, Callie Miller, Morgan Miller, Blake Lowrey (Marley), Alec Lowrey, Ashley Coleman, Grayson Coleman, and Austin O’Rand (Jordan). 3 Great, great grandchildren, Carson Coleman, Dallis O’Rand, Brighton Bowie, Charli Williams, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Tiger.
Services to remember Warren and his life will be held Saturday, September 26th, 2:00 pm at St. Paul Methodist Church, 215 S Clayton Ave. Tyler, TX. Graveside services in De Queen, AR will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity, St. Paul Methodist Church, or Meals on Wheels in Tyler, TX.
Rita Faye Blue Ward
Rita Faye Blue Ward, age 52, a resident of Dierks, Arkansas died Thursday, September 17, 2020, at her home.
She was born July 22, 1968, in De Queen, Arkansas. She was a homemaker and member of the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Dierks, Arkansas. Mrs. Ward enjoyed going to thrift stores, attending church and spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Ward was preceded in death by her parents Roy Wayman and Eva Ina Alexander Blue; two brothers Rodney Blue and Danny Jo Blue and two sisters Debbie Johnson and Margaret Ann Blue.
She is survived by her husband Jimmy Ward, one son and daughter-in-law Wayman and Virginia Ward of Dierks, one daughter and son-in-law, Danielle and Sam Willis of Dierks; three stepchildren and their spouses; Nikki and Billy Pate of Kirby, Arkansas, James Ward of Dierks, DJ and Chris Keith of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, six grandchildren and six step grandchildren, one sister and brother-in-law, Sherry and Randall Frazier of Antlers, Oklahoma, and a number of nieces, nephews and relatives.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ward will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 20, 2020, at the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church with Andy Arnold officiating.
Burial will follow at Sunshine Cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home, Dierks.
General viewing for Mrs. Ward will be held Saturday, September 19, 2020 from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Tommy Kyle Klitz
Tommy Kyle Klitz, of Horatio Arkansas, died on September 16, 2020. He is preceded in death by his son Alex Michael Klitz, his step-father James Chandler. He is survived by his wife, Faith Pumphrey Klitz, his mother Priscilla Chandler, his children Zak Klitz and Renee Burnard, and four grand children Audrey, Abel, Aizen, and Isabel, three sisters Karen Bailey, Tricey Klitz, and Keri Klitz.
Tommy was every kid’s hero and every man’s friend. He lived for the simpler things in life and shared his joy beyond measure. With a life-long career in the oil field, Tommy worked off-shore in the gulf coast and overseas.
Services will be held graveside at Clear Creek Cemetery on Saturday. September 19, 2020 at 10:30 officiated by Brother Jimmy Roden, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Mr. Emanuel Owen
Mr. Emanuel Lee Owen, age 84, a resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas, died Thursday, August 20, 2020 at his home.
He was born to Arthur Lee and Fannie Ella Black Owen in Rome, Mississippi on July 10, 1936. He was a retired veteran of the U S Air Force, having served in both Korea and Vietnam. After retiring from the military, he worked in civil service. Emanuel was a Lutheran , and enjoyed clocks, hunting, fishing, but most of all, cherished the time spent with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hazel Elizabeth Dunn Owen; a son, Tommy Holliday; a daughter, Judy Cowen; a grandson, Stephen Tremblay; and his brothers, Charles and Cecil Owen.
He leaves to cherish his memory, two sons and one daughter-in-law, Lisa and Jerry Tennyson of Tennessee, and Tammy and Dale Gilbert of Jacksonville, Arkansas; 17 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members, and a host of friends.
Graveside Memorial Services for Mr. Emanuel Owen will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Popular Springs Cemetery, Charleston, Mississippi. The family will meet at Newsom Funeral Home, 911 East Main St., Charleston, Mississippi 38921, to lead the family and friends to the cemetery. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen, Arkansas.
Rev. D. E. Villa
Rev. Diogenes Enrique Villa Mendoza was born in Calamar, Colombia, S.A. on November 24, 1925. At an early age he was saved in a Baptist church in Calamar, where he lived. Later, he moved to Barranquilla, Columbia, where he met the love of his life, Bertha Carpenter.
Diogenes and Bertha were married February 26, 1944 in Colombia starting a new family and ministry team that for 61 years faithfully proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ and salvation throughout the America’s. During these early years D. E. enrolled in a Bible school to further equip himself for ministry.
The growing family moved from S. A. to the U. S. in 1948 making their home along the Texas/Mexico border. From there they traveled and ministered throughout Mexico and Central America preaching in churches, outdoors, wherever there was opportunity. As the family grew so did their outreach, adding practical dentistry to help people in the villages they visited, and a radio ministry broadcast throughout Colombia reaching an untold number of people with the gospel message.
Over time the family grew to include seven children, so Bertha taught school and traveled with D. E. during the summers along with managing numerous other ministry related outreaches. After her retirement, together they increased their traveling to minister and strengthen the body of Christ.
Rev. Villa was a faithful husband and father, evangelist, teacher, friend and counselor always handling the Word of God with fidelity and clarity. He spent many hours just talking with people to encourage, counsel, instruct, and impart wise words for right living. The number of people impacted for the Gospel will not be truly known this side of heaven as a result of his life dedicated to proclaiming and contending for the Faith.
Rev. D. E. Villa is predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Bertha Villa, two sons David Villa and Daniel Villa, three daughters Dillia Villa, Darlene Villa and Deborah Brown. He is survived by a son Rev. D. Enrique Villa, Jr. and wife Juanita, a daughter April Sword, as well as eight grandchildren – Santiago Esteban Villa and his wife Leunila Sanchez de Villa, James Bass, Jennifer Brown, Delia Wilson and husband Kris, Jonathan Brown and wife Becca, Enrique Villa III and wife Grace, Ruth Villa and Esther Villa, five great grandchildren – Kristopher Glenn Wilson, Andruw Wilson, Hadley Villa, Alex Brown and Luis Fernando Villa along with a host of family and friends.
Today we celebrate and honor a life well lived and a life consistently dedicated to ministry.
Funeral Services for Rev. D.E. Villa will be held at 2:30 P.M., Sunday, September 13, 2020 at El Centro Cristiano Church, 218 W. De Queen Ave., with Pastor Edward Abriel officiating. Burial will follow at Mineral Cemetery, Gillham, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
The use of a face mask or covering will be required during the funeral service. Please follow social distancing guidelines.
Leonard Earl Austin
Staff Sgt. Leonard Earl Austin was born August 10, 1942 in Lockesburg, Arkansas to Earl and Arie Austin. He grew up in the Oak Grove Community, at New Zion Baptist Church and was baptized under the Pastorate of the late Pastor Bryant.
On February 5, 1984, he united with Clayton Chapel Baptist Church. He served as Deacon under Pastor Ray Robinson. He served as the Superintendent of Sunday School Ministry, teacher of the Men’s Class, a member of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Men’s Ministry. When he passed, he was under the pastorate of Pastor Parnell Maxwell.
He graduated from Sevier County High School in 1960. He joined the United States Air Force in 1966 and received many awards: Arkansas National Federal, Arkansas Services Award in recognition of 5 years of patriotic service; Performance Award by the Veterans Administration in recognition of outstanding contribution to the improvement of operations resulting from superior performance; 189 CAM SQ Award for 25 years of Dedicated Service with the Arkansas Air National Guard, October 8, 1988; In 1992 received Administrator’s Award Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Nursing from the Department of Veterans Affairs; An Honorable Discharge Award, awarded as a testimonial of honest and faithful service from the federally recognized Air National Guard of Arkansas of USA; Certificate of Retirement in Recognition from the Department of Veterans Affairs following 38 years of dedicated service to the government of the United States of America, on July 31, 2004, an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States of America on November 4, 1971 and many other Department of Veterans Affairs outstanding rating certificates. He was also a business owner for three years known as Austin Tire and Service Auto, Little Rock, AR.
He married Mary Louise Henry in 1971 and had two twin step-daughters, Melody and Patty Haymen. The marriage was dissolved.
He married Carolyn Maxwell September 19, 1983. The marriage was dissolved.
Preceded him in death are: his parents, Earl and Arie Austin; Rev. Anthony Eric Austin (brother); Tiffany Austin (niece); Gregory Chisholm (nephew) and Patty Bailey (daughter).
He leaves to cherish: Daughter, Melody Gaspher (Rudolph) of Newark, Delaware; Brother, Raleigh Austin, Sr. (Sheryl) of Raytown, MO; Sisters Ruby Nelson, Emma Burrell both of Kankakee, IL; Margaret McNeil (Michael) of Raymore, MO; Sister-in-law Ruth Austin of Raymore, MO, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Funeral Services for Mr. Leonard Austin will be held at 1:00 P.M., Monday, September 14, 2020 in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Pastors Parnell Maxwell, Anthony May and Kelly Wilbert Austin officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Williamson Cemetery, Oak Grove Community, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends for one hour, prior to the service.
The use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home. Please follow guidelines for social distancing.
