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EDITOR'S NOTE -- YOU can thank Jim Bell 47 for sharing Charles Harvey Martin obituary with us. Be sure to click Obituaries & name then you will be able to read Martin's obit.

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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Thanks to Jim Bell '47 for listing Griffin-Leggett Funeral Home who had William Allen Bullard's body, you are able to read his obit by CLICKING on the link below! You need scrool

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ROGER CLIFTON MEARS, JR., born May 21, 1925. To Roger C. Mears, Sr. and Linnie Lankford Mears and a veteran of service in the United States Army, died at his home in the loving arms of his wife and children May 2, 2006. His siblings, Marcille Bellinger, Nancy Daniels and William Mears predeceased him.

He is survived by his devoted wife and best friend, Elsie Faye Weaver Mears, and four of his five children, Vicki Ann Mears Strickland (deceased), stepson, Carl Warren Williams, Jr. (Susan), Clifton Wayne Mears, Sr., stepson, Michael Freeman Williams, and Leslie Karen Mears Golden (Gary). He also cherished daughter-in-law Luvenia Mears. He is survived by adored grandchildren, Sara Freitag (Jeff), Susanna Hause, John Foster (Jill), Clifton Wayne Mears, Jr., Erin Marissa Golden, Shanna Michelle Mears, Blake Andrew Strickland, Sean Golden and Adam Freeman Golden. He was the beloved Papa to 8 great-grandchildren.

Roger was a Chartered Life Underwriter with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. A Million Dollar Roundtable life Member, he served as President of both the Central Arkansas Chapter of the CLU and the Little Rock Life Underwriters Association.

He was elected Pulaski County Judge in 1976. He served as Chairman of the Pulaski County Election Commission, 1970-1976, was Chair and elected member of the Pulaski County Democratic Committee, 1968-1976, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972 and 1976.

Roger, a member of Phi Kappa Alpha, graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in 1949, after attending Little Rock High School, Class of 1945. An avid Razor-back fan, he also served on the UA Fayetteville Alumni Association.

Roger shared a love for travel with Elsie, his beloved wife. They toured the world together and visited all 50 of the United States at least once. He always looked forward to annual family trips to the warm sands of Florida.

The family requests that memorials be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church where he was embraced by church family and friends, to the UAMS Family Medicine Center where he was cared for so very well, and to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Alumni Association.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, 2006, at the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 664-3600, with Dr. Lynn Lindsey officiating. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at the funeral home. To sign Mr. Mears' online guest book, visit www.griffinleggett.com

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Editor's Note -- Paul D. Snodgrass '48 sent this obit of Keith Vinsonhaler (who some you might remember). Keith attended several schools in Little Rock. Stanley Gray '48 mailed the OBIT from the Arkansas Gazette-Democrat to Paul.

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(Contributed by David DeRossett '50

Ray,

You probably know that Dr. Robert L. Burton died last October 10th. (Bobby Burton, LRHS, class of 1943.) He had a very fast growing lung cancer that was discovered just after arriving back in Ft. Worth after being here for the Alumnus of the Year weekend, where he was the LSU School of Music's Alumnus of the Year.

He was a major professor of mine at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary '59 - '61, where he was head of conducting and choral activities until his retirement several years ago. He was on the faculty at Southwestern for some 40 years, and was one of the nation's eminent choral conductors. His bachelors and masters degrees were from LSU, completed in 1951. He had his PhD in vocal pedagogy from the University of Indiana.

Also, right after HS graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps and flew B-24 Liberator Bombers in WWII. He was 78.

Since fall of 2000 when we had a nice visit at the big LRHS Band Reunion in LR, we had grown quite close as friends. It was such a pleasure for Roberta and me to sing in a fine alumni choir a very challenging program that he directed as a climax to the alumni weekend. He was so happy and having a grand time.

We surely do miss him, and knowing that there won't be further opportunity to spend time with him when we're over in the Dallas area to visit our children and grandchildren.

As ever,
David

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Dr. Richard Dixon '53 (Contributed by Mike McWilliams '54)

Dr. Richard Dixon, Class of 53, and a clarinetist in the LRHS band for three years, died on Monday, June 25th in Naples, FL. Richard practiced denistry in Little Rock for 35 years. He then moved to Kwaljalein, Republic of the Marshall Islands, where he was Chief of the Dental Clinic for the US Army. He retired to Naples in 1999. In spite of his long, courageous battle with cancer, Richard continued to enjoy scuba diving, hunting, skiing, fishing, flying, sailing, and his most recent love, wood turning.

He is survived by his wife Nina of Naples, FL; a son, Richard H. Dixon Jr and his wife Karen of Benton, AR; a daughter, Debbin Dixon Hays and husband Tom of Longview, Texas; two step-children, Kelli Simpson Fort and husband Lt Commander Brian Fort of Yorktown, VA, and Jamie Simpson of Fayetteville, AR. Also, surviving are his six grandchildren.

Contributions in Richard's memory may be made to Hospice of Naples Inc., 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105 or Clan Campbell Education Association (Education Fund) , c/o Joseph McG. Campbell, 129 Richland DR,West Manderville, LA 70448.

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Lucy Ann O'Bannon Blackstone (Tipped By Norma & Wally Davenport!)

LUCY ANN O'BANNON BLACKSTONE June 18, 1935 - July 5, 2001.  Born to Sidney & Lois O'Bannon on June 18, 1935 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  She graduated from Little Rock High School and then attended William Woods College in Missouri where she received an Associate Arts in Communications degree.

It was in "chemistry" class at Little Rock High School where she met James P. Blackstone.  They later married on July 31, 1955 and together had 4 wonderful children:  Amy Singer, husband Kenny and children David and Michael of Pflugerville, Texas; Kathy Kamrath, husband Tim and children Megan and Caitlin of Cypress, Texas; Beth Wiehe, husband Don and daughter Morgan of Seguin, Texas; and Andy Blackstone, wife Norma children Heather Denson, husband Eric and children Shaila, Morris & Maurice of Irving, Texas, Dorance Phillips, wife Shelley of Grand Rapids, Michigan and John Finch of Lansing, Michigan.

In summary there are 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  Ann is also survived by her sister Jeanne Goings and husband Lamon of Murphy, North Carolina; a niece Emily Goings and nephew Paul Goings, also of Murphy, NC.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Sidney & Lois O'Bannon of Little Rock, Arkansas and her great nephew Daniel Goings of Jackson, Mississippi.

Graveside services 2pm Saturday July 7, 2001 Klein Memorial Park, FM 2920.  Rev. Don K. Wiehe from Hillcrest Assembly of God officiating.

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Glenda Ann Ponder Buchanan (Wally Davenport -- 11/7/01)

Glenda Ann Ponder Buchanan (class of 1953) passed away here in Houston on October 28, 2001

Obit available in Houston Chronicle dated October 30, 2001.

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James Whitsitt (Edith Flourie Whitsitt)

I regret to inform you that Jim passed away on March 22, 2002, at his home here in San Diego. He died of complications from heart disease.

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