ROGERS — Roy Chadwick “Chad” Kumpe

of Rogers, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the age of 83 after a battle with cancer. He was born on December 18, 1940, in Little Rock to Roy and Berenice Kumpe.

He was a beloved husband to Wendy Kumpe, brother to Peter Kumpe (wife, Trudy), former spouse to Priscilla, and father to Nicholas, who preceded him in death (wife, Stacey), Ronald (wife, Carmen), and Chadwick “Chaddie” (husband, Charlie Platt). He was stepfather to Michael Scott (wife, Christy) and Michelle Cummings (husband, Chris); and grandfather to Matthew, Tristan, Veronica, Sara Belle, Preston, Chance and Miller; great grandfather to Ezra and Luella Jade.

Chad attended Little Rock schools and graduated from Central High School in 1958 during the height of the integration era. He attended the University of Arkansas and graduated in 1962, participating in school government and was an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He received his advanced degree in real estate from Texas A&M University.

He joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant and was quickly promoted to a First Lieutenant as an instructor in Advanced Infantry Training on weapons and emergency ordnance demolition before returning to Little Rock to work in the family business, Canteen. He was active in Jaycees and local and state politics, then joined Rotary International at the young age of 25. He was a 32nd Degree Mason for the majority of his life, like his father Roy.

He was recruited to Northwest Arkansas to be Director of Urban Renewal for the Fayetteville Square and also to serve as Director of the Housing Authority. In these positions he preserved the Old Post Office building, developed the gardens around the square, managed the new Housing Authority High Rise building, and several low-income housing apartments.

He continued his career as a Commercial Real Estate Broker and Property Manager in Northwest Arkansas. He became District Manager for Century 21 in Little Rock before being promoted to Regional Director and VP of South Central States for Century 21; a position that took him and Wendy to New Orleans, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Returning to Northwest Arkansas, Chad was a real estate broker and educator for new agents and brokers.

Chad maintained his membership in Rotary International in Fayetteville, Rogers, South Padre Island/Port Isabel, Texas, and helped charter a new club in Downtown Rogers. He served as Board Member and President in more than one club, received the Service Above Self Award and the 4 Avenues of Service Citation, and became a Paul Harris Fellow Major Donor and Benefactor to The Rotary Foundation. He and Wendy participated with the American Wheelchair Mission on several deliveries of wheelchairs in Latin American cities and took their grandchildren with them on trips.

Chad loved being out in nature, particularly boating on Beaver Lake, spending time with his family and friends, and watching birds.

While Chad did not wish to have a memorial service, he would appreciate donations in his name to the American Wheelchair Mission, The Rotary Foundation, or the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Online condolences can be found at www.rollinsfuneral.com.