Obituaries
Charlotte B. Brown
“In Tune with the Community”
Charlotte B. Brown, longtime Hot Springs resident and violinist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, died Sept. 28, 2019, in Atlanta.
Mrs. Brown, who was 98, was born in Crystal Falls, Mich., in 1921, and educated at Lawrence College Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wis. There she met Joseph C. (Joe) Brown, who was a PhD candidate at the Institute for Paper Chemistry. After graduation, she taught music at a private girls’ school. She and Joe were married in 1944 at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was serving in the U.S. Army.
Joe joined Weyerhaeuser Paper Company, which transferred the couple from Wisconsin to Washington State, Oregon, Connecticut and North Carolina. There, Charlotte served as chairwoman of the Plymouth, N.C., city planning commission; she also established and led the town’s first Girl Scout troop. In 1969, she and Joe settled in Hot Springs, where her husband supervised the acquisition of Dierks Paper Co. by Weyerhaeuser. After Joe’s retirement, the couple traveled extensively.
During their 50 years in Hot Springs, Charlotte and her husband were known for their support of community philanthropy in health, education and music. Charlotte played the violin in the Arkansas Symphony for 28 years in Little Rock and around the state. She continued playing in string quartets around Hot Springs well into her 90s.
In 2007, her picture – smiling with her violin – was featured in a brochure for St. Joseph Mercy Health Foundation, which she and her late husband supported. The headline read “In Tune with the Community,” and quoted her:
“There is a true sense of well-being in knowing St. Joseph’s is in tune with the community,” as Charlotte Brown herself was.
Survivors include Susan Wardell and Barbara Brown, both of Atlanta, Sallie Brown (Mark Pinsky), of Orlando, Fla., and Cliff (Gay) Brown, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3819 Central Ave., Hot Springs, where Charlotte was a member.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arkansas Symphony or the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Caroline S. Campbell
Caroline Seiz Campbell, 87, passed away on Sept. 21, 2019.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. A reception will follow.
Online guestbook and tributes available at http://www. GrossFuneralHome.com.
Doris Coursen
A celebration of life for Doris “Dee” Coursen, who passed away Sept. 17, 2019, will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.
Virginia M. Diggs
On Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, Virginia McLain Diggs went to be with the Lord.
Virginia was born in Augsburg, Germany, on Nov. 7, 1950. A few weeks later, she was adopted by Capt. Russell and Margaret McLain and moved with her military family to Okinawa, Japan, and then later to the USA at the age of 10. In her childhood, Virginia loved riding bicycles with her friends and was on the basketball team. She graduated from Blevins High School in 1968, and headed to Henderson State University, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 1974, before meeting her future husband, Lewis, the next year.
Virginia adored children and lived this out by teaching school for 29 years. The majority of that time was spent teaching kindergarten in Hope and Nashville. She really found her niche in Nashville, where together with her colleagues, they became the “Sandpile Crew” of kindergarten teachers. Virginia always found the childlike magic in things, which made her such a wonderful teacher! Not only could she relate to children, her classroom bulletin boards and home décor were competitively decked out for every holiday. Most of all, she loved her students; so much so that she would often spend her own resources to help any child who needed it. As successful adults, her former students would often return to thank her for the love and foundation she provided them so early in life.
Virginia fiercely loved animals and enjoyed her gardens. An excellent self-taught cook, she enjoyed preserving vegetables and stayed busy — whether it was frying squash and okra picked fresh from her garden, gifting her famous gingerbread cookies around Christmas time or staying up countless nights to help her son with school projects.
With the latest novel in tow — mysteries and thrillers were her favorite — she spent many years chasing her husband and son as they coached and played youth basketball around the country. Virginia became a team mom and a second mother to many; her family grew larger by a number of the players who loved her dearly.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Margaret McLain, and her brother, James McLain.
She is survived by her loving husband, Lewis Diggs; beloved son, Bradley Diggs; sister-in-law, Norma McLain, of Hot Springs, Ark.; nephews, Russ McLain (wife Marsha), of Stanton, Texas, and Jeff McLain (wife Dawn), of Alexander, Ark.; and her students and extended basketball family.
Pallbearers will be Tavarous Moore, Jeffrey Smith, Charles Green, Dontea Norton, George Green and Dennis Thornton. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Fred Divers, Dr. Manish Joshi, Josh Milholen, Ricky Norton, Luke Terrell and the Arkansas Diamonds youth basketball team. The family also wishes to thank the countless other doctors, nurses, friends and family that have been by her side.
Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Davis-Smith Funeral Home, 2205 Airport Road (Highway 70), Hot Springs.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at the same location. Interment will be at Howton Cemetery immediately following the funeral.
Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.
Bertha L. Harris
Bertha Lena Harris, 84, of Hot Springs, died Oct. 8, 2019.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Lauren Knowles
Lauren Knowles left this earth on Oct. 1, 2019, after a determined, months-long struggle against cancer.
An informal memorial service will be 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Hot Springs Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in support of Jackson House (http://jacksonhouse.org).
Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home. Online condolences at http://www. hotspringsfh.com.
Bill Lewallen
Bill Lewallen, 82, of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away Oct,
6, 2019.
He was born Aug. 17, 1937, in Springdale, Ark., to Gordon Wayne and Clara (Sailor) Lewallen.
Bill was a member of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church and was active in various ministries, including the Noahs of Arkansas Emmaus Community. He enjoyed a 30year career working in all areas of the poultry industry.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Lewallen, of Hot Springs; sons, Jerry Lewallen (Pitty), of Jasper, Ga., Doug Lewallen (Connie), of Natchitoches, La.; daughter, Kristy Smith (Delous), of Destrehan, La.; brother, Dick Lewallen (Betty), of Oklahoma; and grandchildren, Kyle Lewallen (Caroline) and Baylee Smith.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Hot Springs with the Rev. David Fleming officiating.
Burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Friendship Cemetery in Springdale, Ark.
Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Strivers Sunday School Class and the Wednesday morning Outreach Crew.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a contribution be made to the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church’s Table of Grace Ministry.
Online condolences at http://www.caruth-hale.com.
Larry G. Phillips
Larry Gayle Phillips, 74, of Hot Springs, Ark., went to be the Lord on Oct. 6, 2019.
He was born Sept. 29, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, to Ernest and Ora Mae Phillips.
He is predeceased by his parents, daughter, Amy Phillips, and brother, G.D. Phillips.
Loving survivors include his wife of 48 years, Gail Phillips, of Hot Springs; son, Tobby Rickey and wife, Rona, of Fate, Texas; son, Todd Phillips and wife, Alisa, of Hot Springs; daughters, Angela Hanna, Andrea Phillips and Abby Phillips; grandchildren, Dallas, Hailey, Charity, Starla, Oceana, Kingston, Tyler; and great-grandchild, Hayden.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. today at Oak Grove Cemetery, Royal.
Online condolences are http://www.caruth-hale.com.
Dennis A. Schreck
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Dennis A. Schreck, 75, of Hot Springs Village, passed away Oct. 5, 2019.
He was born June 6, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Paul and Alice Schreck.
Denny retired from the FBI in 1994, while working as a FBI special agent, he worked in Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas. After retiring from the FBI, he became an instructor for 10 years at the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute.
He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Cheryl Pennington Schreck. Denny and Cheryl loved Hot Springs Village and spending time with their friends.
He will be missed by many. There will be a private family service held at a later date.
In honor of Denny, do something nice for someone else.
Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http://www.hotspringsfh.com.
Cathleen Walker
Cathleen “Cat-Mama” Walker, age 62, of Hot Springs, passed away Thursday, Oct. 3,
2019.
She was born March 13, 1957, in Stamps, to the late L.J. and Rosie Mae Webb Stewart. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Louvenia Ellis.
Cat-Mama, as she was known by her family and friends, was a graduate of Stamps High School and received an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in her later years. Cathleen was a licensed cosmetologist and was a former employee of Job Corps in Shreveport, La. She was a former member of Macedonia Baptist Church and Immanuel Christian Fellowship. Due to her health, she was unable to attend church, but she kept her faith and was a Christian.
Cat-Mama loved spending time with her family, traveling, styling hair and especially singing and dancing.
Those left to share fond memories of Cat-Mama include her children, Bobby Lee Nutt Jr., of Fort Smith, Quantiko “Jap” Lashone Smith, of Hot Springs, Kwincii Roosevelt Taingo Stewart, of Castle Rock, Colo., and Lonnie James “L.J.” Barron, of Hot Springs; her siblings, Luerene Burris (James Gardner), Roy (Barbara) Ellis, Rose Walker (Kenny Blevins), Earlene Stewart, Jab Stewart, Jessie Stewart and Steve Wyrick-Ellis; 19 grandchildren,
13 great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at Macedonia Baptist Church, 106 McCurtain St., Mountain Pine, Ark. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m.. Burial will follow in Buckner Cemetery, Buckner, Ark.
The family will be at 1008
7th St., Hot Springs, Ark. Guest registry is at http:// www.carriganmemorial.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Carrigan Memorial Funeral Services.