WAYNE LOFTIN
Wayne Loftin, 69, died March 28. He was born Jan. 8, 1936, in McRae. He retired from Affiliated Foods after 27 years of service. He was previously employed by Central Arkansas Milk Producers Associa-tion and Associated Milk Producers Association for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaines and Pauline Loftin. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbie Neal; son Doug Loftin and wife Cindy of Bryant; daughters Charlotte of Cut Bank, Montana and Tonya Alkire and husband David Pike of Pangburn; three grandchildren, Wesley and wife Shelly of Alexander, Aaron of Bryant and Alison Alkire of Pangburn; brothers, Hiram “Junior” and wife Roberta of Memphis, Tenn., Ron and wife Fran of Homestead, Fla.; sisters Jamell Short and husband Bill of Conway, Willa Dean Hill and husband Dean of Silafee, Texas; several nieces and nephews and numerous friends and family.
Visitation begins at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Antioch Cemetery. Charles Curlie, Travis Hall, Larry Reynolds, Raysel Bradberry, Preston Roberts and Jimmy Rogers will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
JULIUS SMITH
Julius Smith, 81, of Sherwood was born on Jan. 2, 1924, in rural Lonoke County and died March 26.
He was the fourth of 12 children born to Burl and Edith Smith. He served with the 8th Air Force 457th Bomber Group in World War II and flew 29 missions over Germany including D-Day. He was a member of the Eaker Chapter of the Distin-guished Flying Cross Society. Post-war he farmed and worked in sales. He started the Department of Public Safety at UALR in 1969 and retired in 1986. He was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Clara; two sons, Larone and wife Pat of North Little Rock, Danny and wife Ginger of Russellville; three grandsons, Michael Smith and wife Leigh of Fayetteville, Jason Smith and wife Jennifer of Russellville and Brian Smith of Jonesboro; one granddaughter, Kimberly Furhman and husband Chad of Fayetteville; four great-grandsons, Aidan, Isaac and Samuel Smith of Fayetteville and Noah Fuhrman of Fayetteville; four sisters, Lottie Stubbs of Little Rock, Dorothy Dube of Sherwood, Adlee Stratton of Cordova, Tenn., and Sharon Bass of Beebe; four brothers, J. B. Smith of Marianna, Sammy Smith of Ward, Gene Smith and Gary Smith, both of Cabot, and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alvin and Jimmy Smith and one sister, Madge King. Funeral services were held Monday at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
LOUISE POWELL
Louise (Lucy) Huber Powell, 64, of Austin was born June 18, 1940, at Pine Bluff to the late Edward W. and Margaret L. Huber, and she died March 26 after a courageous battle against lung cancer. Louise was also preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Bobby W. Powell. She and Bob were members of 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin. A 1957 graduate of Stuttgart High School, Louise retired from U.S. Postal Service.
She is survived by a son, Paul Christian of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Wendy Nilsson of Rich-ardson, Texas and Lisa Buckner of Fayetteville; three sisters, Margie Martin of Kyle, Texas, Crystal Hu-ber of North Little Rock and Laura Huber of Maumelle; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. A special thanks to Arkansas Oncology Associates, CARTI, Dr. Sauer and the staff at Hospice Home Care.
Funeral services were Tuesday at 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin with burial in 16th Section Cemetery by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Family requests donations be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Beebe Humane Society, 707 Hwy 64 West, Beebe, Ark. 72012.
ESTHER FIELDS
Esther May “Bratcher” Fields, 88 of Jacksonville, passed away on March 26. She was a member of Marshall Road Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
Survivors are five daughters, Linda Hicks of Ohio, Sharon Teel and Betty Roe, both of Hector, and Joyce Mullins and Becky Fields, both of Jacksonville; three sons, Ray Fields of Judsonia, J.R. Fields of North Little Rock, and Billy Fields of Jacksonville; one brother, Mearl Bratcher of Missouri; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Marshall Road Baptist Church. Burial followed in Shady Grove Cemetery in Bald Knob.
PAULINE FOLEY
Pauline Estelle Robicheaux Foley, 85, of Jacksonville passed away March 25. She was born Sept. 5, 1919 to H.J. Gill and Ressie Dowell. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge. She loved to collect coins and stamps. She was known for loving to cook and won many awards for her cooking. She is preceded in death by both her husbands, Wilma L. Robicheaux and Joe Foley.
Her sisters, Delores Witcher and Nancy Clark also preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Leigh Robicheaux; grandchildren, Brandon Robicheaux and Aimee Milligan; great grandchildren Chloe and Cierra; five nieces, Judy Hodges and DeeAnn Davis, Amy Jo Dixon, Michelle O’Donnell and Deanna Harris; a nephew Joe Witcher; and an aunt, Vera Begnaud.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge. Interment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home.
