Eagle Observer OBITUARIES

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

— Mary Ruth Chandler

Mary Ruth Chandler, 94, of Bentonville, died on March 11, 2011, in Gravette.

She was born July 2, 1916, in Webster County, Ky., to the late Melvin and Verdie Grigg. She volunteered at Helping Hands for 16 years and was a member of the Bentonville Church of Christ. She was also an avid Razorback basketball fan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe Givens Chandler; her brothers, Carl, Gamon, Forest, Jim; her sisters, Ruby, Myrtle; and a great-granddaughter, Tonya Elliott.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Mary Nelle Chandler of Bentonville; a daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Ann and George Henderson of Stafford, Va.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were March 14 at the Bentonville Church of Christ, with Walton Hook and William Spurlock officiating. Interment was at the Bentonville Cemetery. Arrangements were by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville.

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Julia L. Eldred

Julia L. "Judy" Eldred, 93, of Rogers and formerly of Sulphur Springs, died Sunday, March 13, 2011.

She was born July 6, 1917, in Sulphur Springs, to the late George Ward Eldred and Louella (Mosier) Eldred.

She was a member of the Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church. She worked on the family farm, a grocery store and eventually retired from Sibley Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. She was very active in her church and community.

She was preceded in death by her parents; seven siblings, Ruth Eldred, Ben Eldred, Mary Connard, Charles "Pete" Eldred, Katherine Collingsworth, George Eldred and James "Jimmy" Eldred.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, at the United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, with a short visitation immediately preceding the services, at 9 a.m.

Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Sulphur Springs following the services. Arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville.

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Emil Lynn Grubb

Emil Lynn Grubb, 80, of Bentonville, died March 10, 2011, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.

He was born Aug. 9, 1930, in Decatur, to Clon Edward Grubb and Carolyn Louise Gammon. He was in the army and fought in the Korean War. He lived most of his life in Decatur and worked as a truck driver for Cawood Trucking Company.

He was proceeded in death by his son, Johnny Lynn Grubb; daughter, Ladonna Lynn Grubb; and two brothers, James Richard Wilson and Billy Ray Wilson.

Survivors include his daughter, Starla Grubb of Deland, Fla.; two brothers, Edmond Dwayne Grubb of Siloam Springs, and Leonard H. Wilson and wife Mary Lou of Beaufort S.C.; one sister, Karen Janisch of Neosho, Mo.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were March 15 at Falling Springs Church in Decatur, with Chuck Bengtson officiating. Burial followed at Falling Springs Cemetery. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.

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Edith Ann Morgan

Edith Ann Morgan, 71, of Siloam Springs, died March 10, 2011, at her home.

She was born Oct. 20, 1939, in Corona, Calif., to Claude LeRoy and Emma Lee Provost Tusinger. She worked at Sears, IGA and Dayspring before her retirement in 2002.

Survivors include her husband Bryan; a daughter, Donna Harper and husband Wendell of Gentry; two sons, Alan Morgan and wife Brenda of Siloam Springs, and Glen Morgan and wife Melaney of Trinidad, Colo.; two brothers; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services were March 14 at First Assembly of God Church in Siloam Springs, with Gary Wheat officiating.Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

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Leona Presley

Leona “Maxine” Presley, 74, of Hiwasse, died March 8, 2011, at Northwest Medical Center of Washington County in Springdale.

She was born Jan. 9, 1937, in Maysville, to Weeden H. Spencer and Lillie M. Ames Spencer. She married Louis F. Presley on March 4, 1955. She worked for the United States Postal Service for 29 years. She was a member of the Hiwasse Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Franklin Spencer; and her eldest son, Michael.

She is survived by her husband; three sons, Layne Presley of Rogers, Scott and wife Shelby of Bentonville, Daryl and wife Elaine of Centerton; one stepson, William and his wife Donna of Hico, Texas; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was March 12 at the Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel, with Gene Roberts officiating. Burial was at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hiwasse.

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Doris Robrahn

Doris Maxine Robrahn, 92, of Siloam Springs, died March 13, 2011, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.

She was born July 3, 1918, in Dearborn, Mo., to Norvil Laurence and Mary Green Laurence. She attended grade school and high school in Dearborn and graduated from high school in 1936. She attended Maryville State Teachers’ College and taught school for four years. She married Ronald Robrahn in Lexington, Mo., on Dec. 29, 1939. They moved to Siloam Springs in 1946. She worked for United Telephone Company from January 1956 to December 1960. She retired from J.C. Penney’s after working there for 26 years. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Travel Masters, Lion Tamers Club and First Christian Church in Siloam Springs.

She was preceded in deathby her husband; one son, Ronald Robrahn, Jr.; one sister, Katherine Laurence; and one brother, Ora Laurence.

Survivors include one son, Larry Robrahn and wife Linda of Siloam Springs; two granddaughters, Stacy West and husband John of Sulphur Springs, and Melisa Arellano and husband Alex of Siloam Springs; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 16, at First Christian Church in Siloam Springs. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Siloam Springs. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

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Thelma Smith

Thelma Irene Smith, 83, of Elm Springs, died March 7, 2011, at Washington Regional Hospice in Fayetteville.

She was born July 22, 1927, in Bentonville, to Gilbert Thomas Lawson and Dorothy Dean Mayfield Lawson. She was a member of the Lakeview Baptist Church in Cave Springs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry L. Smith; twin sister, Christine Wolford, and sisters, Vera Powell and Jane Lawson; brothers, Julian Lawson, Robert “Bob” Lawson, and Jack Lawson..

Survivors include two sons, Harry “Steve” Smith and wife Helen, and John “Mike” Smith and wife Emma, all of Springdale; one daughter, Diana Young, of Springdale; five grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; two sisters, Jerry Scott and Shirley Holiday, both of Bentonville, and two brothers, Jim Lawson of Decatur, and Bill Lawson of Washington state.

Funeral services were March 11 at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, with Johnny Harp officiating. Burial was at Elm Springs Cemetery in Elm Springs.

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Louise Russow

Louise Russow, long-time resident of Gravette, died Monday, March 14, 2011. Funeral services will be announced by Wasson Funeral Home.

Community, Pages 4 on 03/16/2011