BENJAMIN LeGROW
Silas Benjamin LeGrow, 90, of Jacksonville and Cabot passed away on Jan. 15 to his Lord and to those who went before him.
He was a retired Air Force chief master sergeant and a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, a World War II veteran and a POW survivor of the Bataan Death March and of Japanese prison camps.
He was born on Aug. 12, 1922, to Benjamin and Mary Whalen LeGrow at Bauline, Newfoundland, Canada, a small fishing village on the Atlantic coast of the island.
Both parents passed away before he turned 7. He was adopted by his Aunt Florence. He immigrated to America, arriving in Vanceboro, Maine, on Aug. 28, 1929. He lived with his aunt in Tampa, Fla., where he grew up and went to school.
After finishing school, he went with his cousin to Toledo, Ohio, and wound up joining the Ohio National Guard in November 1940. He was assigned to Company C, 192nd Tank Battalion. After training at Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Polk, La., the battalion was ordered to the Philippines by Gen. Patton.
They arrived in November 1941, only to be attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 8. They fought back for almost four months before their capture in April.
They were forced on the infamous Bataan Death March. Surviving the march, he suffered 39 months as a POW in Japanese prison camps in the Philippines, then on a hell ship and finally the camp at Hoten, Mukden, Manchuria, until being liberated by the Russians in August 1945.
He returned to the States and convalesced in the hospital for eight months before finally returned to Tampa. He married his sweetheart for life, Edna L. Lewis, of Tampa on Dec. 29, 1946. He became a U.S. citizen on Jan. 14, 1947.
They were later stationed at Fairchild Air Base in Spokane, Wash., Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan and Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Newfoundland, his birthplace, before returning stateside to Little Rock Air Force Base, where he worked at base supply as non-commissioned officer in charge. He retired from the Air Force after serving his country for 27 and a half years.
He settled in Jacksonville with his family of five sons. He went to work at Hollis and Co. in Little Rock for a short period, then at Great Plains Bag Co. in Jacksonville, where he would retire again. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 4548 in Jacksonville. He was president of Jacksonville AARP for three years. He was also president and a lifetime member of Arkansas Retired Military Association in Jacksonville.
He loved serving his community and sharing with friends. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville and spent many Sundays and gatherings as a member of the chapel family at LRAFB.
He spoke with many about his experience as a POW, visiting schools and local groups.
He went on a very special trip to Russia with his wife, Edna, and other ex-POWs that was led by former Sen. Blanche Lincoln and UAMS staff to meet Russian World War II veterans and officials during Russia’s Veterans Day ceremonies and celebrations in 2002.
He loved working in his yard all day and his garden in the spring and summer and especially loved fishing with his sons at Greers Ferry Lake, the Little Red River and float trips on the White River.
He was preceded to Heaven by his parents, Benjamin and Mary Whalen LeGrow; his son, Michael Wayne LeGrow, at 12; brothers, Roland and Wilson, of Newfoundland; brother-in-laws, Frank and Randolph Lewis, of Tampa, and a sister-in-law, Ruth and her husband Lewis Davies of Cocoa, Fla. His living loved ones are his loving wife of 66 years, Edna; his son, Robert (Bob) LeGrow, who is an Army veteran and his wife Kay of Hernando, Miss.; a grandson, Brett LeGrow and his wife Jennifer; great grandchildren, Brooke and Blake; his son, Howard LeGrow, of Jacksonville amd Cabot, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam; his son David (Dave) LeGrow, an Air Force veteran, and his wife Kathy of West Plains, Mo.; a grandson, Aaron, of San Diego, Calif., and his son Kenneth (Ken) LeGrow of Jacksonville and Cabot; his sister, Anita (Nita) Gaulton and family of Stephensville, Newfoundland; his cousin, Miriam Engelbrecht, of St. Johns, Newfoundland; a sister-in-law, Martha and her husband Lewis Schulteis and her husband Ed of Kansas City; a brother-in-law, George Lewis and wife Stella of Cocoa, Fla., and his many nieces and nephews and many great friends, especially Monroe and Ola Flucas and neighbors Ron and Jeanette Quisenberry.
Memorials may be made to the LRAFB Chapel or a charity in his name. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at Roller-Owens Funeral Home Chapel in North Little Rock.
Interment will follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
A fellowship gathering will be held after the services at the Jacksonville VFW.
CHERYL OUZTS
Cheryl Kay Ouzts, 58, of Lonoke passed away Feb. 9 at her home. She was born June 9, 1954.
Survived by her husband, Larry Ouzts; one son, John Bright, of Sacramento, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Tonya Ouzts and Sarah Ouzts, both of Cabot, one grandchild and five step grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Cremation arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
THEODORE HINES
Theodore Edward Hines, 94, of McRae went home to be with his Lord and Savior surrounded by his family on Feb. 8.
He was born Jan. 19, 1919, at Fox. He was a member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Beebe.
Mr. Hines was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Force and was a 32nd-degree Mason. He worked in civil service at Little Rock Air Force Base until retirement. He then worked as an electrician in Beebe and surrounding areas. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Mr. Hines is survived by four daughters, Joan and her husband Clint Crump of Branson, Mo., Judy and her husband Ken Coffee of McRae, Cleta and her husband Doug George of Heber Springs, and Reta Hines of Branson, Mo., 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Ella Griffith Hines; his wife, Dovie Branscum Hines; a daughter, Jan Hines Wittenburg Faubus; a son-in-law, Gov. Orval Faubus; a son-in-law, Don Wittenburg; a grandson, Ricky Don Wittenburg, and six brothers and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Higginson Trinity Pentecostal Church of God Building Fund, 100 Rachel Drive, McRae, Ark. 72102.
The funeral was Feb. 11 at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Fox Cemetery. Arrangements are by West-brook Funeral Home in Beebe.
VANCE WILLIAMS
Vance G. Williams, 83, of Jacksonville passed away on Feb. 11. He was born Oct. 26, 1929, in Jefferson County, Ga., to the late William S. Williams and Jesse Williams.
He was a retired master sergeant in the Air Force who served during Vietnam and the Cold War.
He later retired from the Postal Service.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Lou Williams.
He is survived by his children, David Williams and his wife Annabelle, Kevin Williams and his wife Alice, and Lorane Mancini, and one granddaughter, Mary Ann Carter-Neyland.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville with military honors.
Arrangements are by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
FREDERICK SPEARS
Frederick Lee (Freddy) Spears, 58, of Beebe died Feb. 11.
He richly and deeply loved his family and his friends. Freddy was always available to lend a helping hand to those in need.
He is survived by his father, Fred Spears, of Beebe; brothers, Greg of Memphis, Jim of Vilonia, Tim of Ward, and Gary of Beebe; a sister, Honey Jo Spears, of Beebe; a close friend, Jeremy Mar-chant, many nieces and nephews and numerous family and friends.
Freddy was preceded in death by his mother, Jean Spears, and grandfather Richard Gerome Bayles.
His family asks that memorials be made in his honor to carry on his caring and loving spirit to Arkansas Sheriff’s Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 3964, Batesville, Ark. 72503; Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 1165, Searcy, Ark. 72145, or Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116.
A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 16 at Ward City Hall, 405 Hickory St. with a time of fellowship and pot luck to follow at 1 p.m.
Cremation arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
RUTH FLETCHER
Ruth Ida Fletcher, 89, of Fairfield Bay passed away Feb. 8 at Clinton. She was born Oct. 30, 1923, in Warren to the late Euert and Louise Durham.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Gould Fletcher; a brother, Eugene Durham, and a sister, Martha Sue Culbertson.
She was a member of Fairfield Bay Baptist Church and past president of the American Business Women’s Association.
She is survived by a son, John Fletcher, of Conway; a daughter, Nancy Fletcher, of Fairfield Bay, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Thomas Funeral Service. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at Fairfield Bay Baptist Church.
Cremation arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot.
MADELINE HARRINGTON
Madeline J. Frizzell Harrington, 73, of Austin went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Feb. 10.
As a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Madeline loved her church and church family more than can be expressed. She was a devoted Christian lady, who not only taught her children and grandchildren the love of Jesus, but also tried to share it with everyone she met. Employed as a realtor and an income-tax professional, she always worked hard for her clients and treated them as she said she would want to be treated.
Madeline is survived by her children, Cynthia Sims and her fiancé Ronnie Guyot, of Ward, and Dennis Harrington of Austin; three very special grandchildren, Whitney Sims, Zach Harrington and Jacob Harrington; a brother, Otha Frizzell, of England, and several very loved nieces and nephews.
Madeline was preceded in death by her parents, Otha and Mable Frizzell, and two sisters, Shirley Halley and Doris Blackwell.
Memorials may be made in Madeline’s name to Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 301 Bill Foster Memorial Hwy., Cabot, Ark. 72023.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Cabot with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
