Obituaries

OBITUARIES Information for the obituaries and funeral notices below was supplied to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Advertising Department by funeral homes. For more information including cost and deadlines contact the advertising department at (501) 378-3889.

BENTONVILLE — Frances C. Hensley, 84-year-old resident of Bentonville, Ark., died on Dec. 19, 2017, at Circle of Life in Springdale, Ark. Born on May 3, 1933, in Muleshoe, Texas, she was the daughter of Marvin Wimberly and Zenobia Brock Wimberly.

Fran married Bob Hensley in 1958.

She was preceded in death by daughter, Denita Hensley; and one brother.

Frances is survived by her husband Bob of the home; son, Raylon Hensley of Bentonville, Ark.; two brothers, Marlon Wimberly of Edmond, Okla., and Glenn Wimberly of California; three sisters, Lois Maloney of Quaker Town, Pa., Wanda Anderson of St. Louis, Mo., and Gail Blankenship of California; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, Ark.

Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Siloam Springs, Ark.

Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark.

To sign the online guest book, visit www.wasson funeralhome.com.

CENTERTON — Ilse A. Goeder, 84, of Centerton, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at Apple Creek Nursing and Rehab in Centerton. She was born Feb. 4, 1933, in Furstenau, Germany.

She married Heinrich Goeder in 1953. They along with their then 2-year-old daughter emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1956.

Before moving to Arkansas in 2016, she was a longtime resident of Cape Coral, Fla., where she and Heinrich were charter members of the German-American club. She also worked in the Lee County School District for over 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Heinrich Goeder; and by two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include Jutta Aaron and husband Gary of Bentonville; one grandson, Ryan Lee and wife Hannah of Rogers; and two greatgrandchildren, Joshua and Caroline.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale.

To sign the guestbook online please visit www.sisco funeral.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Peter Smidt, age 94, passed away Dec. 5 at home in Fayetteville, Ark. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Patricia, seven children, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Burial with military honors will be at National Cemetery in Fayetteville on Dec. 27. A full obituary at: https:// www.facebook.com/EptingFuneral-Home-of-Fayette ville-134245349957935/.

SPRINGDALE — Lillian Russell Applegate celebrated her 92nd birthday with her sons and their wives two weeks before her death on Dec. 18, 2017. Known to most as Lil, she was born in Sand Springs, Okla., in 1925 to Emerson A. and Hazel Rhoads Russell.

In 1943 she graduated from Pineville High School (Missouri). For a year after high school, Lillian worked as a secretary in Rogers, so she could enroll and study at the University of Arkansas. Lil was the first in her family to attend college. In 1947, she married the love of her life, John Applegate of Rogers. They lived in Austin while John attended pharmacy school at the University of Texas. Returning to Rogers in 1949, they built a home, started a family, and owned Applegate’s Drug Store on First Street.

Lil was preceded in death by her parents, by her beloved husband John (in 2012 after 65 years of marriage), and by three (Dorothy, June and Allen) of her four siblings.

Survivors include her two sons: J. Bruce Applegate (wife Ann) of Springdale and Douglas L. Applegate (wife Rhea) of Bella Vista; her four grandchildren: Dustin Logan Applegate (wife Chris and sons Jack and Henry), Sarah Applegate Williamson (husband Brad and daughter Lyla), Jordan Applegate (daughter Sienna and wife Malorie), and Heather Applegate Paul (husband John and children Brooks, Rynn, Ellerie and Bryce); Lil’s brother Charles Russell (wife Peg) of Omaha, Neb.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A dedicated wife and mother, she loved her husband, children, grandchildren, the spouses of all, and her great-grandchildren. Lil and John’s favorite song lyric was: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” Their marriage exemplified the lyric.

A family celebration of life is planned for January 2018. Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762.

SPRINGDALE — Louise N. Peterson, 93, of Springdale, passed away Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at her home at Arkanshire. She was born Nov. 24, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., to Emil and Grace Schuchow Neyendorf.

Louise was a homemaker who had the voice of an angel. She was a soloist at Moody Memorial Church, sang on the radio, directed church choirs, and played the piano and organ. She worked for Victor Adding Machine Company and for the Norden Bombsite during World War II. Most of all, she was a loving wife and mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Neyendorf.

Survivors include her husband, Donald Peterson of the home, and three daughters: Lynn Morrison and husband Kenneth of Wisconsin, Kathleen Pearson and husband Michael of Illinois, and Donna Rollene and husband Jerry of Springdale; nine grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at 2 p.m. at The Gardens at Arkanshire, 5000 Arkanshire Circle in Springdale, with Pastor Bill Seeger officiating.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral. com.

LITTLE ROCK — Judge Lee Munson, age 80, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at Hospice Home Care of Little Rock. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date following the Christmas holidays. To sign the online guest book, please visit www. rollerfuneralhomes.com.

CASSVILLE, Mo. — Jeston Lynn Fulton of Cassville, Mo., died Dec. 18 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Mr. Fulton was born April 15, 1940, to Jeston Creed Fulton and Jessie Lee Porter Fulton, and had one brother, Howard L. Fulton.

Lynn went to Cassville High School, during which time he worked at his father’s gas station and met the love of his life at Crow’s Restaurant. Lynn and Phyllis Marie Bothwell were married on Feb. 12, 1966. Lynn and Phyllis Fulton had two daughters, Dia Marie McBurnett and Donna Dion and one son, David Lynn Fulton. Lynn and Phyllis have 11 grandchildren: Jason M., Joseph, Jared, Savannah, Creed, Jordan, Addie K., KateLynn, Caleb, Jacob and Cole; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Lynn was a family man and loved his family time having BBQs for all and family reunions. He loved hunting and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. He was a devoted husband, business man and enjoyed his family and friends. He worked and owned Fulton Sanitation in Northwest Arkansas for almost 30 years. He sold his company in 1995 and started Fulton Properties. He loved reading his Bible.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Fulton; her two daughters, Dia and Donna; and their son, David Fulton. One grandson passed away in 2015, Jason M. Fulton. We now have surviving 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many other great family members and friends. He will be remembered and deeply missed.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, at Eastside Assembly of God Church in Bentonville, Ark. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Betty Ault, a 45-year resident of Bentonville, Ark., died peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on Nov. 3, 2017, in Greenville, S.C., at the age of 96.

Betty was born Elizabeth Anne Mertz on July 25, 1921, to Edward and Elizabeth Torbert Mertz in Washington, D.C. She was raised in the Cleveland Park area of D.C. and graduated Woodrow Wilson High School. She attended college as a home economics major before marrying John W. Ault on Aug. 24, 1941.

Betty was happily married to John for 70 years until his death in 2012. They lived a life of love and adventure as world travelers for three decades before settling into their beloved “Dancin’ Rabbit” property in Bentonville. They lived and traveled in five continents, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America.

Betty was a pioneer, explorer, and adventurer who thrived on new experiences and new people. She made friends easily. She was a voracious reader, curious intellectual, and lively story teller known for her quick wit and creative talents. Betty was an avid gardener, talented chef, and excellent seamstress. She experienced great joy and comfort from the many stray cats she adopted over the years.

In her 90s, Betty embarked on one more adventure when she moved to Greenville, S.C. to spend her remaining years with her niece and niece’s family.

She is survived by her niece Tracie Mertz McConnell, Tim McConnell, great-nieces Aubrey Keffer and Sydney Keffer, and sister-in-law Joan Mertz, all of Greenville.

To the end, Betty was fiercely independent and strong-willed. She lived life on her own terms. She was known by all to be “quite a character.” Just a week before her death, when asked about her history by a new caregiver, Betty responded “I can’t tell you anything about me. I’m undercover.” She will be lovingly remembered as someone who lived a lot, loved a lot, and laughed a lot.

A memorial service will be held graveside at Bentonville City Cemetery on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at 11 a.m.

Online condolences may be made at www.thewood mortuary.com.