STUTTGART — Bobby Ray Wortman,
87, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Springhill Baptist in North Little Rock. Bob was born Jan. 27, 1934, in Stuttgart, Ark., the third child of William H. and Annis Wortman. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Kay; a sister Donna Watts; sister-inlaw, Geneva Wortman; brothersin-law, Eugene Schroder, Harry Craig, T.C. Watts and Van Baker; nephew, Donald Wortman, and great-niece, Elizabeth Craig.
Surviving him are brother, William D. Wortman of Stuttgart; sister, Shirley Baker of Cabot; sister-in-law, Sue Schroder of Stuttgart; brother-in-law, Ray Bohanan and wife Marie of Stuttgart; and several nieces and nephews.
Bob graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy in 1956-57. Upon returning home from the Navy, he resumed working with this brother in their father’s heavy equipment business. After their father’s death, he and his brother continued the business until retiring in 2004. Bob was a charter member of Southside Baptist Church, serving as treasurer for 50 years until his health declined.
On April 11, 1964, Bob and Kay were married at Southside. They had a long marriage of 52 years until her death in 2016.
There are two things you think of when you think of Bob: trains and animals. Bob was fascinated by trains from the time he was a little boy on through his adult years. With the railroad tracks right behind the house, he would wait for them to pass, memorizing engine and boxcar numbers and many facts about the railroad companies.
Everyone that knew Bob knew his love for animals. Heaven knows how many dogs and cats he took in and cared for. He was known to run a dragline with a wasp’s nest hanging over his head or stopping to get a turtle out of the way so it would not get covered up. He was truly and kind and gentle man who will be missed dearly.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Friday at Turpin Funeral Home and funeral services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Lone Tree Cemetery chapel. COVID precautions will be enforced. The family requests memorials to Southside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 424, Stuttgart, Arkansas 72160; or any animal shelter. www.turpin-co.com