BELLA VISTA — Jimmie T. Hopkins

Jimmie T. Hopkins, 75, of Bella Vista, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at his home.

He was born on Aug. 16, 1934, in Lincoln, Mo., to Clarence T. Hopkins and Dorothy Short Hopkins.

He moved to Bella Vista 19 years ago from Claycomo, Mo. He was a member of the Bella Vista Baptist Church. He was a member of the Bella Vista Men’s Chorus and was active in both his former church (Claycomo Baptist ‘Church) and Bella Vista Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jean Hopkins of Bella Vista; sons Steven C. Hopkins and wife, Ann of Basehor, Kan., Michael W. Hopkins and wife, Joy of Kansas City, Mo., and Rodney J. Hopkins of North Kansas City, Mo.; brother, Vaughn Hopkins and wife, Barbara of Sacramento, Calif.; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A service celebrating his life was held Oct. 19 at the Bella Vista Baptist Church, with the Rev.Mike McCauley officiating.

A second service celebrating his life will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Claycomo Baptist Church, Claycomo, Mo.

Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bella Vista Baptist Church, 50 East Lancashire Blvd., Bella Vista, AR 72714.

On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Melvon

LeRoy Ireland

The Rev. Dr. Melvon LeRoy Ireland, 89, of Bella Vista, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, at Concordia Care Center in Bella Vista.

He was born April 23, 1920, in Kansas City, Mo., to Victor H. Ireland and Minnie F. McCoy Ireland.

He grew up mostly in the Kansas City area, graduating from Kansas City East High School in 1937. He worked in a bookkeeping department for less than a year. He graduated from MidlandLutheran College in Fremont, Neb., on May 20, 1942, and married E. Joyce French on that day. He received a local preacher’s license in 1940 and served his first two churches in Clarks, Neb. He and his wife moved to Dallas, Texas, where he completed his divinity degree at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Returning to Nebraska, he served Methodist churches in Pierce, Wauneta, Blair and Norfolk.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ireland, in November 1963. He began a sixyear term as superintendent of the Omaha District of the United Methodist Church in 1964. He married Ruth E. DeKay Willoughby on June 11, 1966, in Omaha, Neb. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb. He returned to the regular pastorate and served Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln and finally at Scottsbluff.

After nearly 42 years in active ministry, he and his wife, Ruth, retired to Bella Vista in 1985. He served two small churches just across the state line in Missouri, at Stella and Newtonia, until 1990. He then became involved with Habitat for Humanity and served as president of the Sugar Creek chapter from 1993 to 1997. The couple moved to Concordia Retirement Village in August 2003.

He had gone on a sixweek mission to the Philippines, a Holy Land pilgrimage, leading church groups to John Wesley history sites in England and to the Oberamagau Passion Play. The couple did two pulpit exchanges to England - Bristol in 1972 and Southend-on-Sea in 1982. He enjoyed traveling and photography.

He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Judith Ireland; and a brother, Victor Ireland.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ireland; a son and daughter-in-law, Daniel Ireland and Joleen Ireland of Bozeman, Mont.; a daughter and son-in-law, Lynne Ireland and Michael Farrell of Lincoln, Neb.; a stepson, Curtis Willoughby and his wife Doris Willoughby of Littleton, Colo., two stepdaughters, Ramona Walhof of Boise, Idaho, and Susan Ford of Maplewood, Mo.; two brothers and sisters-inlaw, Ralph Ireland and Mary Ireland of Raytown, Mo., and Robert Ireland and Morine Ireland of Overbrook, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Malia Ireland of Eden Prairie, Minn., Darren Ireland of Flagstaff, Ariz., Mollie Bruhn of Brooklyn, N.Y., Whitney Bruhn of Lincoln, Neb., Laura Baumgartner of Seattle, Wash., Chris Walhof of Eagle, Idaho, Brent Ford of Maplewood and Brenda Axmaker of Boise; fourgreat-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Oct. 19, at the First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista with the Rev. Sara Bainbridge officiating.

A second memorial service and inurnment will be held later this month at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Neb.

Cremation arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any of the programs or funds at the First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Laura Radde

Laura Radde, 82, of Bella Vista, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at Northwest Medical Center of Benton County in Bentonville. She was born on May 11, 1927, in Onaway, Michigan to Edward Miller and Loretta Tucker Miller.

She moved to Bella Vista four years ago from Claremont, Calif. She was a wonderful mother and friend to her family.

She loved to watch birds and making quilts.

She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Rogers,Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Kenneth and two sisters.

She is survived by one son, Jon Radde and wife, Melody of Fayetteville; two daughters, Cheryl Sagman and husband, Ian of Vista, Calif., Kim Berger and husband, Stan of Bella Vista; one brother, Robert Miller of Michigan; two sisters, Leona Reddy of Michigan, Maxine Buelow of North California; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Rogers, with Elder Dr. Neil Mullins officiating.

Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.

On-line condolences may be made to www.funeralmation.comof Effingham Ill., and Henry and Robert of West Chester.

Tom is survived by his wife, Norma, of Bella Vista; son Thomas and wife Mary Louise Corbin of West Chester; grandchildren Michael and wife Kirsten of Arlington, Va., and Katherine of West Chester; greatgrandchildren Elisabeth and Matthew of Arlington; brothers Joseph Sicoli, of West Chester, and Domenic Sicoli, of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; and sisters, Rose Valentino and husband, Joseph, Letitia Hemphill, Estelle Doran, Mary McCool and her husband, Francis, all of West Chester, and Isabel Madden and her husband, John, of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life was held at the Elk’s Lodge Oct. 14.

Arrangements were by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762.

On line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

and Kathy of Anderson, Mo., and John Stout and Teresa of Bentonville; sisters and brothers-inlaw, Rosalee Morriss and Paul of Goodman, Mo., Janey Hatfield and Frank of Longview, Mo., and Shirley Wood and Johnie of Bentonville; brothers and two sistersin-law, Dale Stites of Lanagan, Mo., Larry Stites and Denice of Goodman and Lonnie Stites and Debbie of Neosho, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Oct. 15 at the Walker-Dowd Funeral Home Chapel in Anderson.

Burial was at the Tracy Cemetery east of Anderson.

Pallbearers were Matthew Stout, Lonnie Stites, Dale Stites, Roger Stites, Phillip Stites and Scott Leonard.

Memorials may be made to the Blessed Hope Church or to the Tracy Cemetery Association, in care of Walker-Dowd Funeral Home of Anderson.

Online condolences may be made at www.walker-dowd.com.

Thomas Sicoli

Thomas (Tom) Sicoli, 96, of Bella Vista, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at home with his wife by his side. Tom was the eldest child of 11. He was born Nov. 16, 1912, in West Chester, Pa., to the late Dominic and Vincenzina Lupo Sicoli.

He graduated from West Chester High School, class of 1930. He worked for Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation of Eddystone, Pa. as a welder for 32 years. He then worked for Bruce Lake Corporation in Coatesville, Pa. until he retired in his 70’s.

He married Mary L. Mood on July 31, 1936, in West Chester and they had one son, Thomas Robert. They were married for 54 years.

After Mary’s death, he married Norma G. Huntsman on Nov. 28, 1992. After their marriage they decided to move to Arkansas in 1994.

He was a life member of the Italian Social club, of which, his father had been a Charter Member, and a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk’s for almost 60 years.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Anthony

Ralph Russell Weinheimer

Ralph Russell Weinheimer, 80, of Bella Vista, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at Concordia Health and Rehabilitation in Bella Vista.

He was born March 15, 1929, in Anaheim, Calif., to Russell Weinheimer and Irene Pierce Weinheimer.

He was a member of the Assembly of God denomination and served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean conflict.

Survivors include his wife, LaVonne Weinheimer; a son, Larry Weinheimer of Costa Mesa, Calif.; a daughter, Lori Woodworth of Bentonville; stepdaughters, Pamella Crowley of Harleysville, Pa., and Charlene Carter of Bentonville; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Oct. 17, at the Rollins Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Ken Robinson officiating.

Betty Ann Stout

Betty Ann Stout, 75, of Pineville, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at her home. She was born Nov. 12, 1933, in Joplin, Mo., to Earnest Stites and Agnes Townsend Stites.

She lived most of her life in the Pineville area. She married Clyde Stout on Sept. 2, 1951, in Pineville. She was a Christian and a member of the Blessed Hope Church in Goodman, Mo. She was an accomplished cook and enjoyed having family dinners, quilting and reading the Bible.

She was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Carol Stites, on Aug. 1, 2009.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Clyde Stout; daughters and sons-in-law, Donna Gideon and Jimmie of Lincolnton, N.C., Pam Stillions and Mitch of Pineville, Mindy Stout of Ava, Mo., and Angela Allen and Russ of Bella Vista; sons and daughters-in-law, Eddie Stout

News, Pages 4 on 10/21/2009

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