Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Brooks Venable
Brooks F. Venable was born on January 11, 1930 in Russellville, Arkansas to James R. and Margie (Duvall) Venable. He passed from this life on November 28, 2004 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the age of 74.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2004 at the Bixby Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Burton Perry officiating. Graveside committal services will be held at 3 p.m. at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Charleston.
Brooks was a longtime Bixby resident, having moved here as a young man. He was proud to have served his country as a member of the United States Air Force. He worked many years in the Petroleum industry as an accountant and a salesman. HE was a longtime member of the Bixby Free Will Baptist Church, where he served for many years as the church treasurer. He was a member of the Tulsa Scottish Rite and a 32nd degree mason of the Bixby Masonic Lodge. He was an avid sports fan and will be forever remembered by his family for his perfectionist approach to doing things well and his hard-working ethics and values.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mary Ann (Metcalf) Venable, whom he marriage on October 27, 1957 in Charleston, Arkansas, as well as by 1 daughter, Carrie Dooly and her husband Deland, of Tulsa; one son, Clark Venable and his wife Darla, of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Mary Ruth Wright and Chris Fryer both of Atkins, Arkansas; two grandsons, Reston and Parker Dooly as well as several nieces, other relatives and good friends. He was preceded in death by one brother, O.J. Venable and two sisters, Ruby Jo Venable and Evelyn Duncan.
Memorials may be directed to the Good Shepherd Hospice or the American Alzheimer's Association. Services by Leonard and Marker Funeral Home of Bixby.
Mark Edward Middleton
Oct 12, 1962 - May 7th, 2022
Mark Edward Middleton, 59 of Little Rock, went to be in the loving arms of God on Saturday, May 7, 2022. Mark was born in Little Rock on October 12, 1962.
Mark is survived by his loving and devoted wife Rhea, daughters; Lindsay and Lauren, father; Charles (Chuck) Middleton, mother; Anita Middleton-Kellar, brother; Steven Lawrence (Larry) Middleton, sister; Sandra Leeann (Sandy) Middleton-Marshall. Mark was a devoted uncle, and his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him as well as his community at Middleton Heat and Air.
Mark's contributions to this community include serving on board of directors of CHI St. Vincent Foundation, CARTI, Arvest, board of advisors for UAMS Foundation Fund, Fifty For The Future, American Association of Air Conditioning Contractors, Arkansas General Contractors Associations, and Young Presidents Organization.
A private family celebration of life will be held May 12, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The Middleton Family would like to invite any interested to join the live feed via Facebook Live @RFHome.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Navigate Counseling and Wellness, a mental health ministry of NLC. Checks may be mailed to 633 South Country Club, Conway, AR 72034.
Robert Weiden
Robert William Weiden of Neweiden, Narrowsburg, NY, lately of Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart, PA, died after a valiant five year struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born in Neweiden, NY on October 28, 1930 to Mathias H. J. Weiden and Ernstine Heckert Weiden. Robert graduated from Mount St. Michael Academy where he participated in track and field events and was awarded medals for History and School Spirit. He attended Manhattan College in the Bronx, where he received a BA in History and Language Arts and continued activities in the National Federation of Catholic College Students, the St- Vincent DePaul Society and the History Club, He continued graduate studies at Hunter College, began teaching Junior High School, and was drafted into the Army in 1956.
Robert served two years of active duty in the Chemical Corps and four years of reserve duty. His active duty assignments led him to Ft. Lewis, Washington where he taught officers and non-commissioned officers. He was honorably discharged SP4 and returned to teaching with a NYS license in Social Studies, Language Arts, and Special Education (Emotionally Handicapping Conditions). He continued his post-grad studies in Social Studies and Education and was a staunch supporter of education issues.
Robert fully retired from active teaching in 2000 after working in various Junior High Schools in NYC, Villa Loretto in Peekskill, NY, Pyramid House, Phoenix House, and Daytop Village where he taught courses enabling students to continue with their HS diploma track while working on freeing themselves from chemical addictions.
He was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church Communities of St. Barnabas, Bronx; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Yorktown Heights; St. Francis Xavier, Narrowsburg, and St. Anthony's in Yulan (all in NY). He served as a Lector in several parishes, was on the Parish Advisory Council at SEAS, and worked on the Blood Bank since HS, Robert was a honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Barnabas and was instrumental in its creation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish and St. Anthony's.
He was a member of the Catholic Teachers Organization, a life member of the United Federation of Teachers and a member of ANYSEED (Association of NYS Education of the Emotionally Disturbed). Robert was a member and past president of the Catholic Central Youth Union and after 1955, the Catholic Central Union of America, serving as the NYS Treasurer for many years. He also was active in the Social Action Committee, He had been a Board Member of the Leo House in NYC, a unique agency originally devoted to serving German Catholic immigrants, but which today serves more as a hospice for travelers and others, both religious and laity, He held his Board position from 1966 until his retirement in 2000.
Robert believed strongly in preserving the heritage both of his family and NYS. He was a life member of the Sullivan County Historical Society, the Tusten Historical Society, and the Tusten Settlement Association. Robert also contributed to the Cochecton Preservation Society, the Cochecton Center Community Center, the Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance, the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills, and the International House Friendship Program. He spent many years caraing for the family home, Neweiden, in Narrowsburg, along with his brothers and their families, where a Christmas Tree Farm was in operation until several years ago.
Robert's altruism extended to countless charities, mainly religious, that he worked for and contributed to, including his work with his wife Mary in creating the Holy Family Mission Circle, distributing goods for those in need from the local community including Birthright and St. Christopher's Shelter at Graymoor, the Holy Name Center for Homeless Men in NYC, Native American Missions throughout the Midwest, and other places in Africa and Central America. His commitment to Social Justice inspired many and continues to do so.
Robert is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, Mary Catherine Duerr of Narrowsburg, NY, and his loving daughter Elizabeth Weiden Philipbar and her husband Patrick of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Ann Maria Weiden Lowe and her husband Brian of Gastonia, NC. He was thrilled both daughters followed his example and became educators, Elizabeth teaches in the Yorktown School District, while Ann works for the Gaston County School District, NC. Robert was also the joyfully proud 'Opa' to his beloved grandchildren Emma Frances and Theodore Patrick Philipbar, and his namesake, William Keith Lowe. He is further survived by his sisters-in-law Marie Weiden of Chapel Hill, NC, and Betty Weiden of Valhalla, NY, his Duerr sisters and brothers-in-law in Arkansas, California, and Oregon, his many nieces, nephews, and godchildren, and family friends throughout the United States.
Robert was welcomed into heaven by his parents, Mathias and Ernstine, his older, brothers Mathias and Peter, and his only cousin, Ann Sparks.
A mass of Christian Burial was held at 12 noon on Monday September 8, 2008 at St. Francis Xavier R.C. Church Narrowsburg, NY Rev William Scully O.F.M. officiated. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: St Francis Xavier Outreach Program or the Food Pantry 151 Bridge ST. Narrowsburg, NY 12764.
Funeral arrangements are by the Rasmussen Funeral Home.
Auguste (Gustel) Bonner
Auguste (Gustel) Apollonia Karr Bonner, 91 years old, went into the arms of Jesus on June 26, 2015 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Gustel was born March 22, 1924 in Sarrbrucken, Germany. She is survived by her husband, J.T. Bonner of the home; their five children, Sonny and Jennifer Bonner (Bella Vista, AR), Wanda Scoggins (Rogers, AR), Liz and Carl Matthews (Farmington, AR), Sandy and Barry Garred (Bella Vista, AR) and Charlie and Debbie Bonner (Ozark, AR); twelve grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren, as well as her beloved cat. She is also survived by her brother, Karl Heinz Karr and many nieces and nephews still living in Germany. She was preceded in death by her father, Wilhem Karr; her mother, Berta Blinn Karr and one grandson, Charlie Bonner.
Gustel grew up in Germany and at the age of fourteen was forced into Hitler’s Youth Camp for one year. During the war, her home was bombed and her family lost everything. She and her father survived by moving from village to village to find food and work eventually reuniting with her mother and baby brother. After the war in 1947, a young American G.I., J.T. Bonner, stationed in Bamberg, Germany courted and wooed Gustel and won her heart. They have been happily marriage for 68 years. After serving 20 years in the military and living on many different Army bases in the U.S. and Germany, they landed in Charleston where Gustel was an active member of the First Baptist Church. She loved working for the Larkins at Medi Save Pharmacy as a bookkeeper for many years.
Once again, following J.T. and his career, they moved to Jenny Lind, Arkansas where she was also an active member of Jenny Lind First Baptist Church for over thirty years. Gustel served as the VBS record keeper well up into her 80’s as well as being involved with many care ministries with her church and community.
After J.T. finally retired from driving his dump truck, once again, they moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Gustel loved her Lord…her family…her church…her friends…traveling back to Germany…and in these last years as she suffered with Alzheimer’s, she so LOVED her cat, Kitty Bonner.
Funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2015 at Jenny Lind First Baptist Church with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood.
Pallbearers will be Bob Woodhull, Harold Thames, Dan Thames, Don Crockett, Bob Wann and Jim McClain.
John David Coulter
Apr 23, 1966 - Apr 22nd, 2022
John David Coulter of Little Rock, died on April 22, 2022, having lived with lung cancer since January 2020. He was born on April 23, 1966, in Nashville, AR, to the late Donald Nathan Coulter and the late Dixie Killian Johnson. He is survived by his brothers Donald Nathan (Nate) Coulter, II (Nathalie), Little Rock, and Robert Killian Coulter (Lanette), Nashville, AR; step-mother BG Coulter, Waco, TX; step-sisters Candy Swenke (Steve) and Tracy Van Y (Matt); mother-in-law, Marcia Caplinger, Little Rock; and bonus uncle and aunt, Maurice Webb, Jr., and Kathy Webb.
He is also survived by his wife Laura Lecky Coulter, Little Rock, and their son Jonathan Webb Coulter, Boulder, CO; his brother-in-law, Paul (Trey) Lecky III, (Nancy), Woodland Park, CO; and his sister-in-law, Mauri Lecky Arnold, Tampa, FL. He will be lovingly remembered by his many nephews and nieces: Caroline, Nathan (Ellen) and Tom Coulter, Aidan Massanelli, Amber Canright (Dee), Arin Dean (Philip), Robert Coulter (Kandace), Samantha and Matthew Lecky, and Rachel, Katherine and Eliza Arnold.
John grew up in Nashville, AR, where his dad owned a furniture store and his mother taught school. After high school John had several adventures: he worked for Senator Dale Bumpers in Washington, DC, spent time in Florence, Italy, and traveled the US. After a thorough college search, John graduated with a degree in History from Reed College in Portland, OR, in 1992.
John briefly attended theological seminary at the University of Chicago before deciding to become a lawyer. He graduated with honors from Boston College Law School in 1998 and returned to Arkansas to clerk for U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson. He was a partner at the Rose Law Firm with stops at Kutak Rock and James, Carter and Coulter before becoming a partner at McMath Woods where he continued to practice until the end of December 2021.
John was a strong advocate for a wide range of civil rights and was dedicated to protecting the rights of his clients. He received many honors and awards during both his career and years of volunteer service. In 2008 John was selected as a Rising Star and for 2009-2010, 2013-2021 was selected to Super Lawyers, a peer designation only awarded to a select number of accomplished attorneys in each state. In September 2021, John was elected as a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers which pleased him greatly. He believed that everyone deserved to have legal representation and in 2011 was honored by Volunteers of Central Arkansas Legal Services (VOCALS) as the Pulaski County Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. John served on many boards and committees at First United Methodist Church where he was a long-time member; and, from 2008-2012, he served as Pro Bono Counsel to the Central Arkansas District of the United Methodist Church.
John was also a dedicated volunteer with the Little Rock School District never missing an opportunity to read to a roomful of students or to pitch in where needed.
Over the years John worked alongside outstanding lawyers and counted many of his colleagues as his close friends. While John typically represented employees in disputes against employers, he gained widespread respect among lawyers whose firms more often represented the employer’s side in such disputes. Indeed, he was a “go-to” referral source for those lawyers, who knew John would be a smart and savvy advocate for every client he represented.
As important as his career was to John, he put family first and was home early enough to spend time with Jonathan and Laura. When Jonathan was young John played any kind of ball with him and read to him every night. As he got older and involved with sports, John took him far and wide to attend Razorback games, professional baseball games, MLS matches and it was rare for John to miss a game in which Jonathan played. Parents were undoubtedly grateful there was an amateur meteorologist on the sidelines to keep everyone apprised of impending weather changes.
John loved to take fun trips every summer and would traipse along safely on the ground as Jonathan and Laura would zipline through the trees or roller-coaster the afternoons away. No matter the type of vacation, John always had an ample supply of reading material close at hand as reading was one of his favorite pastimes. During his illness and the pandemic, he and Laura spent many hours reading on their screened-in porch with both Bernese Mountain Dogs by their sides, on their feet or in their laps.
John showed amazing grit and perseverance as he consulted with doctors from UAMS in Little Rock, MD Anderson in Houston, TX, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute in Nashville, TN, the University of Colorado, Denver, and Dana Farber in Boston, MA. His determination to live and to give it his all were awe inspiring to his family and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness and generosity toward others, something the world needs more of these days.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in his memory to the Central Arkansas Library System Foundation's John Coulter Memorial Fund (100 Rock Street, Little Rock AR, 72201). This fund will seek to bring authors on subjects of particular interest to John to the annual Six Bridges Book Festival.
The family would like to thank his many devoted doctors and nurses, especially Dr. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis and Donna Westerman, RN, at UAMS.
Reverend David Freeman and Dr. John Robbins will officiate at his memorial service to be held where John and Laura met in 1998, First United Methodist Church, 8th & Center Streets, Little Rock, AR, on May 16, 2022, at 1:00 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Robert Leake Dortch, Jr.
Robert Leake Dortch. Jr., age 72, died on November 25, 2002. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 26, 1930, to Robert Leake Dortch and Katherine Morton Dortch. Both grandparents on his paternal side were pioneers who had plantations in Lonoke and Pulaski Counties, the one well known Marlsgate. He attended grade school in Little Rock and Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, where he was Officer in charge of Aftillery.
Dortch received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1953 at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He served as Cadet Colonel of Army R.O.T.C., President of Scabbard and Blade, and Chaplain of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
In 1953 he marriage Mary Jane Watkins. He joined his father in a large farming operation, seed company, cotton gin, and dryer in Scott, Arkansas.
A devout Christian, his family attended Christ Episcopal Church of Little Rock, Arkansas, where he served on the Vestry.
In 1980 the family moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and built a tourist railroad, the E.S. and N.A. Railway.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter Nancy McKinley of DeWitt, Arkansas, three sons Robert of Eureka Springs, David of Phoenix, Arizona, and John of Fayetteville, Arkansas, also a granddaughter Mary Katherine and grandson Edward McKinley of DeWitt, five sisters Roberta Fulkerson, Polly Davis, Virginia Dorazio, Floride Rebsamen, King Dobbins, and one brother George Dortch.
There will be a visitation Friday, November 29th, from 12 to 2 P.M. at Ruebel Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 P.M. at the Oakland Cemetery Mausoleum, Little Rock, officiated by The Reverend Larry Benfield. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. Donations may be made to your favorite charity or a memorial fund for a plaque through the Bank of Eureka Springs.
Alvina Benish
Alvina Benish, age 92, of Little Rock, died Friday, November 29, 2002. She was born in Hazen, Arkansas later graduating from now Lyon’s College in Batesville. Besides teaching school Alvina was a court stenographer and credit manager. She moved to Little Rock in the 50s.
She is survived by her great-niece, Casandra Taylor of Little Rock.
There will be a graveside funeral service Wednesday at 2 P.M. at Forest Hills Cemetery officiated by Reverend Gregory T. Luyet. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to Baptist Health Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock.
