Obituaries
Javel Angel
Javel Angel, 42, of Hot Springs, passed away Sept. 13, 2017.
Arrangements are with Gross Funeral Home.
Pamela S. Bland
Pamela Sue Bland peacefully entered the gates of Heaven on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was preceded in death by her Granny and Granddaddy, Beatrice and O. L. Richardson; her mother, Lotus Knickerbocker; her father, Royce Lack; and two step-brothers, Mike and Mark Lake.
Pamela Sue Bland was born on July 31, 1947, in Little Rock, Ark. She was a Redbug through and through, but also found room to cheer on the Razorbacks. She was known to love a trip to Las Vegas and traveled there any time she could. Pam was never ashamed to admit that she was a “yellow dog” Democrat, and enjoyed many frank and fierce conversations on such topics. Pam was a lightning bolt that could command a room. One never walked away from a conversation questioning where she stood on a subject. She leaves behind many friends, who will miss her dearly. She had a bold and outspoken personality that balanced perfectly with John, her husband of 45 years.
She was a tireless champion for the rights and opportunities of the developmentally disabled of Arkansas. She became the Executive Director of First Step, Inc. in 1981. Over her 34 year career she built First Step from a staff of 11 to a program employing around 1100 Arkansans serving Hot Springs, Malvern, Glenwood, Fordyce, Sparkman and Hamburg. Under her leadership, First Step expanded to provide services such as comprehensive therapies and early intervention programs for the youngest of clients into adulthood. She passionately encouraged fostering independence for the disabled. Pam was a visionary and established group homes and apartment living for disabled adults. She would wear out the steps to the state Capitol to network and collaborate with state legislators to insure the population she served was treated fairly. Pam retired in 2015, leaving a legacy of families touched by her compassion and dedication.
After all of those accomplishments, Pam’s greatest joy was her three grandchildren. Lovingly referred to as “Kiki,” she cherished every moment she spent with them. She loved and protected them with a fierce passion and grace that was admired by all.
Pam is survived by her loving husband, John Bland, of Hot Springs; daughter, Dr. Heather Bland Owens, of Little Rock; son, Brian Bland, of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Jack, Gabe and Camille Owens; sister, Anna Mayes, of Malvern; brother, John Lack, of San Diego, Calif.; nephew, Jordan Mayes, of Malvern; niece, Kendall Lack, of San Diego, Calif.; and step-mother, Margaret Lake, of El Cajon, Calif.
A memorial service will be held at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home at 155 Section Line Road, Hot Springs, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. John McCallum, pastor of First Baptist Church, in Hot Springs, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock at 8901 CARTI Way, Little Rock, AR 72205, or to the ASPCA-American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Guests may register at http://www.caruth-hale.com.
Robert C. Bradford
Robert Christopher Bradford, 39, of Hot Springs, passed away Aug. 30, 2017.
Survivors include his parents John Robert Bradford, who was not just his dad but his best friend; and mother, Dana Sue Bradford; brother, Michael Daniel; son, Logan Alexander Bradford, who Chris said he loved most in his life; his aunt “Silver” Valovich; best friends, Jay, Danny, Tyse and Charles, who were always there for Chris in good times and bad; good friends, Mathew and Jazz and everyone at Perkins Restaurant, where Chris worked for so many years; and so many more who will miss his quick wit, good nature and ability to make people smile and laugh.
Chris will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched. His legacy was love, laughter and his son, Logan. He left us too soon, but I think God just couldn’t wait to have Chris there with Him making Him smile and laugh just like he did everyone who knew him in life.
Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http://www.hotspringsfh.com. Walter E. Branch
Walter E. Branch, 91, of Hot Springs, passed away Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.
No services will be held at this time.
Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http://www.hotspringsfh.com.
Vera Chunn
Vera “Oma” Chunn, age 70, of Hot Springs, died Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017.
She was born on Feb. 12, 1947, in Glashutte, Germany, the daughter of Joseph Papincak and Friedla Becvarik Papincak. On March 10, 1974, she married Joe Chunn.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Vera was retired after working for many years.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Chunn of Hot Springs; her daughter, Patricia Chunn and fiancée, Tony Burkes of Royal; two grandsons, Gage Maloy of Hot Springs and Shelby Jones of Royal; and her cousins, Herbert and Petra Becvarik of Germany.
As per Vera’s wishes, there will be no services.
Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Arkansas Hospice.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.
Sue C. Conner
LEESBURG, Fla. — Sue Chalmous Conner, 71, died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Leesburg, Fla.
She was born Aug. 27, 1946, in Bauxite, the eldest daughter of Jim and Dean Cameron.
As a small child, Sue was stricken with polio and walked with a noticeable limp and severe back pain for the rest of her life. After graduation at Rison (honors), received her AA from GCCC then a BSE and MSE from Henderson State College. After teaching high school math/science at both Cutter Morning Star and Lakeside Schools, she devoted her time helping post-Polio survivors, those with disabilities or anyone in need. She then eventually retired to Florida 24 years ago.
Preceding her in death were her parents, a younger sister Margaret Ann Outlaw; half-brother, Jack Rice; a nephew Christopher Thomas; and her ex-husband, Howard Conner.
Survivors include a son, Chad Conner; wife, Kellie; and granddaughters, Katie and Lauren; two aunts, Yvonne Williams and Pauline Jacks; one niece, Dayna Lentz, two great nieces, Emily Barnes and Kirsten Lord; two nephews, Maylon Rice and Iry Rice; and several cousins.
The cremation has taken place in Florida, and internment at a later date.
Vernon Crews
Vernon Crews, 63, of Pearcy, Ark., was called home to live eternally with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, where he was reunited with his parents, Darol and Harriet Crews, and brother, Kenny Crews.
Vernon left behind his beloved wife of 44 years, Penny; and two daughters, Lana and Diana, who he called the fairest in all the land. He is also survived by five grandsons, Colden Allbritton, River Allbritton, Ty Ragan, Bonham Taliaferro and Jade Taliaferro; one granddaughter, Alexis Allbritton; two nephews, Chris Chapmond and Brad Crews; and one son-inlaw, Trev Ragan.
No services will be held at Vernon’s request, as he felt his passing was personal between The Lord and him.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, he asks that each of you take time to read Ephesians 2:8-9 and come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Vernon will be greatly missed, yet as he said, he will be waiting for us at Heaven’s Gates.
Guests may register at http:// www.caruth-hale.com.
Linda Garner
Linda Garner, 71, of Hot Springs, died Sept. 8, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Hot Springs Funeral Home with Captain Josh Robinett.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Salvation Army for Camp.
Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http://www.hotspringsfh.com.
Phillip Genualdi
Phillip Genualdi passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 13 in Hot Springs, Ark. where he had retired in 2014.
After a long career in Country Club management, he was eager to enjoy a more leisurely pace and soon became an avid angler and was able to indulge his lifelong love of horseracing. A true dynamo and a man who never met a stranger, Phil soon found a new passion for community service and a treasured band of brothers when he joined the Knights of Columbus. He loved the camaraderie and sense of purpose of this organization.
Phil was a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Marc; daughter, Helen; and sister, Mary. His two grandchildren, Dylan and Alex were the lights of his life.
Phil was born in Chicago on Oct. 5, 1948. He and Barbara were married for 48 years. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army.
A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Hot Springs.
In Lieu of flowers please donate memorials to the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund, PO Box 22927, Hot Springs, AR 71913, or to St. John the Baptist Catholic School, 589 Grand Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Guests may register at http://www.caruth-hale.com.
Tony S. Graves
Tony S. Graves, age 58, of Hot Springs, died Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017.
He was born on May 18, 1959, in Hot Springs, the son of Donald Lee Graves and Mary Irene McCoy Graves. He was preceded in death by his father; his maternal grandparents, Archie and Mary McCoy; and one aunt special aunt, Jean Sharp.
Tony was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He attended Lake Hamilton Schools and graduated from Hot Springs High School in
1978. He worked for over 20 years for Dodson Heating and Air and S & S Heat and Air. Tony also worked at Mel’s Diner from 1997 through 2013. He was an avid fisherman, practical joker and loved to cut up and laugh. Tony enjoyed deer hunting, tinkering around with his fishing equipment and he loved the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was a loyal friend and always wrote sweet notes to family members.
He is survived by his mother, Cricket Graves, of Hot Springs; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Brandon and Melody McGuire, of Cave City, and Cody Hansen, of Hot Springs; his daughter, Jade Graves, of Hot Springs; two grandchildren, Isabella McGuire and Gabriel McGuire; his sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Gary Troutman, of Hot Springs; one niece, Shelby Goss; extended family members and many wonderful friends.
Services will be held at
2 p.m. Monday in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Hot Springs, with Brother George Vincent and Brother Doug Tippit officiating.
Visitation will be held from
1 p.m. until service time. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Harris, Lennon Hill, K.L. Parks, Tim Schlosser, Shell Mangiapane, Craig Shaw, Richie Hurst and Eugene McCoy.
Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.
Martha W. Hall
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Martha Waller Hall passed away quietly at the Community Hospice Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital (Southside) in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, after battling pancreatic cancer.
Martha was born April 25, 1945, in Hot Springs, Ark., to R.A. “Freck” Waller and Frances Maudine (Johnson) Waller.
She is survived by her two sisters, Peggy Waller McBride and Virginia Waller; two daughters, Gloria Spera and Carol Ann Goodwin; two granddaughters, Francesca Guerrero and Nikki Spera; and a nephew, Johnathan Earl.
She is predeceased by her parents and her husband, Robert Joseph Hall, who died in Vietnam in 1967.
Martha grew up in Hot Springs, where her father, Sgt. Maj. (retired) R.A. Waller, was stationed at the Army Navy Hospital. After retiring from a 33-year career at General Motors, Martha followed her parents into retirement in Niceville, Fla., and lived there for more than 20 years. She was an active member of the Niceville 1st Baptist Church (Florida), and an employee of the Okaloosa County (Florida) Office of Elections for 11 more years. Martha loved her friends and her church family in Niceville, only leaving to follow her youngest daughter, Carol Ann, and son-in-law, Steve, to Texas in 2015 as her health deteriorated, and then to the Mayo Clinic for cancer treatment. She leaves behind laughter, love, an unshakable faith in the Lord and many bereft friends and family.
Her family would like to thank those whose efforts were so important during her last days: Virginia Waller, Gloria Spera and Maury and Edna Eckel.
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:8
Per her request, Martha’s earthly remains will be cremated and then buried next to her beloved parents at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hot Springs, Ark. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, officiated by Martha’s cousin, the Rev. Pam Raines. A celebration of life gathering will be held immediately after for friends and family.
Please contact Carol Ann Goodwin at carolann.goodwin64@gmail.com with any questions regarding additional information on burial services.
Joanne Weiss
Joanne Weiss, 90, of Hot Springs, passed away Sept. 9, 2017.
She was born Dec. 4, 1926, in Delta, Mo., to the late William and Winnie Tanner.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, David Weiss; daughter, Leslie West Morphew; and brothers, Jurl and Burl Tanner.
Survivors include her grandson Michael D. West.
Joanne was passionate about singing. In her early years, she sang the standards of the day at nightclubs in the Roswell, N.M. area. That was where she met and married her husband, who was a flight instructor at Roswell Air Force Base.
Later in life, she continued her singing with the Sweet Adelines, first in Little Rock, Ark., and continued in Hot Springs, where she and her husband retired in the late 70s.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to http://www. ALZ.org.
Arrangements are with Hot Springs Funeral Home.
Online condolences at http://www.hotspringsfh.com.