A Service of Resurrection and Thanksgiving to God for Dr. George Key Mitchell

Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church

A Service of Resurrection and Thanksgiving to God for Dr. George Key Mitchell

May 2, 2024

Dr. George Key Mitchell was born in Sheridan, Arkansas on June 15, 1931. He passed away on April 29, 2024. He was predeceased by his parents Coats A. and Jessie Lee Mitchell and his brother Allan. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Martha, and his son Adam (Kristie) granddaughters Quinn and Peri Mitchell, son Loyd (Kim) and his sons Loyd Jr, (Jessica), Daniel (Karen), granddaughter Sophia , and Alex, daughter Lee Ellen Carroll( Chuck) and her sons Andrew (Amanda) grandsons Cooper and Tripp, and Chad Carroll.

George was a kind, considerate, intelligent person. While he might have been the smartest person in the room, you would never know it as George focused on others first, versus himself. He loved his family dearly. Arkansas Blue Cross-Blue Shield and its employees held a special place in his heart. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra was a source of great pleasure and interest to George.

George loved to be on the water, whether it be on a houseboat on Lake Ouachita or at Greers Ferry at the lake house. The lake house holds so many wonderful special memories of family. He and Martha truly loved and enjoyed their special marriage. They loved each other dearly and spent time traveling with each other to hear jazz concerts as well as taking the family on trips. They had a bond that lasted over 53 years. George loved living, good music (especially classical), a nice Dewars scotch and water and good company. He left a big space for all of us.

George earned a bachelor's degree in 1952 from Hendrix College, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1952 and his Doctor of Medicine, with honors, from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1956. He was board certified in internal medicine in 1963.

He served in the Arkansas National Guard from 1956- 1963, eventually serving as the company commander in the 125th Medical Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade.

In 1961, George and others formed the Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic. In 1968, he became the first full time medical director of Arkansas Blue Cross.

George was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Arkansas Blue Cross in 1975 and held this position until his retirement in 1993. During his time as CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross became the largest health insurer in the state as well as a leading innovator and proponent of healthcare reform.

He served on the board of trustees at Hendrix College from 1981-1993 and was chairman from 1986-1993. He was named Distinguished Alumus in 1993. He is a life member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra board and was inducted in the Business Hall of Fame in 2016.

The family would like to thank his caregivers: Shawnda Washington and her staff, Sherrita Campbell, Tamela Washington, and Demetria Langston. Memorials can be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

A Service of Resurrection and Thanksgiving to God for Ludwig H. “Lucky” Meinholz

October 2, 2024

Ludwig Hugo Meinholz passed away peacefully on July 9, 2024, at the age of 82. He was born on December 25, 1941, in Hannover, Germany to Rudolf and Margarete Meinholz. Ludwig immigrated to the United States in 1963, and years later became US citizen. He worked as a Marketing Director at Riceland Foods. Although he spent more years of his life in the US, Ludwig travelled back home to Einbeck, Germany almost every year to visit his mother who lived to be 109 and still tended to her flower garden. He also attended reunions and festivities with his classmates and sisters every year until he could no longer travel due to illness. Growing up in Germany, Ludwig played soccer in school and was an avid fan of international soccer games. He especially enjoyed watching when Germany was playing. Ludwig's hobby was wood working, this was very important to him and gave him much joy. He told fascinating endless sad stories of his travels, experiencing post World War II, that would melt the hardest of hearts. Ludwig was the most sensitive, kind, compassionate, and sweetest loving man you would ever meet, he will be dearly missed. Ludwig was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Meinholz; two sisters, Erika Colius of Canada; Almut Sohnemann of Germany; his niece, Stefanie Winters of Germany; stepson, Chad Mowrey (Ashley); step grandchildren; Olivia; Ava; and Eleanor. Ludwig was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. He was a member of Fathomers Sunday School Class and a member of the Gospel Mission of the Philippines for many years. Ruhe in Frieden Auf Wiedersehen, Lucky. (Rest in peace and goodbye, Lucky.)

A Service of Resurrection and Thanksgiving to God for Kathleen (Kathy) Leota Churchill

August 16, 2024

Kathleen Leota Churchill, 81, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 surrounded by her loving family and friends. In Kakky fashion, she waited until ''the party'' arrived for her to join hands with her Lord and Savior. She always said, ''She worked her entire life to join Him.''. Kathy was predeceased by her parents, Leo and Leota Wilson; her son, Kevin Churchill and her older sister, Loretta Secrest. Left to carry on her bubbling spirit, tremendous faith and never- give-up attitude is her husband of almost 61 years, Spence Churchill; daughter, Kristin Trulock of Little Rock; favorite, and thank goodness, only son-in-law, Greg Trulock; daughter-in-law, Kimberley Churchill of San Diego; six grandchildren, Carly Davis (Jace), Walter Trulock, Wilson Trulock, Emma Churchill, Joy Churchill, Joshua Churchill; sister, Judy Carlson and sister-in-law, Elisabeth Churchill. Just on May 30th, her first great-grandchild, Landon Rhodes Davis, was born to her delight. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews were a big part of her joyful times, along with so many friends she loved seeing and being with whenever possible. Kathy grew up in a humble and happy background as the youngest of 3 daughters to Leo and Leota Wilson. She was born in Torrence, California on October 21, 1942. She spent her younger years in Orange County, California, until she wanted to see if the grass really was blue in Kentucky, where she enrolled at the University of Kentucky after spending one year at Fullerton Junior College. On the first day on campus, she met her husband-to-be, a counselor in the men's/women's dorm. He was the first person to offer to change her light bulbs. He has been around for 60 years to change whatever she needed. Spence and Kathy lived in Southern California and Northern California where their son & daughter were born, before moving to Arkansas in 1971. As a couple, they loved to travel within the USA and abroad with two other special couples. As sweet of a lady as Kathy was, she could voice some ''zingers'' your way without any warning. If you ended a conversation with her without her unique giggle, you might be in trouble later. Kathy had many nicknames throughout her life, including Positive Polly, Mama Church, Honey and Babe. Her most treasured was Kakky, which her grandchildren called her. She thought each of them personally hung a little slice of the moon. There was such respect, fun and love going in both directions between them and that was always present. Kakky never missed a grandchild's activity! All the grandchildren's friends knew they could count on her to cheer for them, too. During her battle with cancer, the thing she missed most was not being able to help other people, which always made her day. To help other people, she served as a PTA President, Board Chairman at church, board member at Youth Home and Citizens Fidelity Insurance Co. She also helped establish the Arkansas Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and volunteered at Home for Healing, WPRCI Auxiliary and CCFA. Throughout her life, she was our family's example of putting others before ourselves. We will always remember her for all the things she lovingly did for us. It is hard saying goodbye to someone we love so much. We wish to extend our appreciation and gratitude to Kathy's health and hospice care providers for their excellent attention to Kathy's needs: Dr. Tu, nurse, Angie Ford, Sandra Jones, Shannon Greer, Tiffany Hadden, Kayarrah Muldrew, Jan Stewart and Katherine Allen. Each doctor she met was told, ''I am going to beat it.'' She did beat it because she knew at the end of her journey of over two years battling stage 4 cancer, her Lord and Savior would be waiting for her with open arms. She led her life loving the Lord, loving her family, loving people and loving life. She had beaten cancer three other times, so there was no quit in her. She was a people person who would talk to anybody and win them over because they could tell she had an interest in them no matter their walk of life.

A Service of Resurrection and Thanksgiving to God for Bonnie Jean Kelley

July 20, 2024

Bonnie Jean Kelley, 87, of Little Rock passed away June 25, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Janie "Francis" Stell Kelley and Charles "Morgan" Kelley; brothers Joseph David "J.D." (Joan) Kelley and Charles Morgan "Jr." (Jean) Kelley; sister-in-law Audrey N. Kelley; niece Kathryn "Michelle" Kelley Borghi; nephews Mark Jones, Danny Kelley, and Darrell Kelley. She is survived by her two sons, James Alfred "Jimmy" McDaniel, Jr., and Eric Anthony McDaniel (Chad Rodgers); granddaughter Lauren Elaine McDaniel; great- granddaughter Adalyn McDaniel; great-grandson Lucas McDaniel; brother Billy Kelley; sister Martha Kelley (Dale) Lauhon; nephew Michael (Judy) Kelley; nieces Camille Kelley (Dusty) Gates and Deanna Kelley (Jeff) Foster; a host of loving family and her beloved dachshund, Hans. Bonnie was born and raised in Hamburg, Ark. In high school, she was consistently the top scorer on the girls basketball team. She also earned the nickname "Sarge" as an acknowledgment of her ability to organize and lead, which followed her throughout her life. After graduation, Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, James McDaniel, and moved to Little Rock. She began her career as a secretary with Interstate Wholesale. She later became a licensed beautician and opened "Bonnie's Hair Fashions" on 65th Street in Little Rock. Women from all over town would come to the salon for their weekly up-dos. During her marriage to Jim Morrow, "Sarge" put her business acumen to work at Morrow Insulation helping to elevate the company to a leader in the local industry. She ended her career as the manager of Cambridge Place where she was valued and loved by all her neighbor friends. Bonnie had boundless energy in her every endeavor. In her late 70's, she moved to Hillcrest next door to Eric and Chad where she quickly became the Matriarch of their block. Cherished memories were made caring for her great-grandchildren and even teaching them to count with dominos and spell with magnetic letters. Bonnie's life was fulfilled with her love of family and joy of gathering with friends. She was always the life of the party. Bonnie balanced a career, family, friends, church, and civic work. Her faith was the foundation of her life of love and service. Always fashionably dressed, complete with perfect hair and makeup, she generously gave of her time, talents, and resources. She never missed a ball game, recital, school meeting, church social, or choir rehearsal. Always seeing the best in people, her minister described her as a "true peacemaker." Her energetic and fearless determination remained with her to the end. Our lives are richer because of Bonnie.