Classmate Obituaries - Letter G

These obituaries correspond with the yearbooks that are listed on this website. Whenever possible, the source of the obituary will be shown as well as the date.

Gay, Reba Hughes

Reba Calhoun Gay, 61, of Oklahoma City, formally of Benton, passed away February 21, 2010. She was born August 3, 1948, in Hot Springs County to the late Raymond and Helen Hughes. She was an active real estate agent for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and two sisters.
Survivors, husband, Gene Gay, Oklahoma City; daughter, Michelle Bailey, California; step son, Preston Gay; brothers, Carl Hughes, Hot Springs, Raymond Hughes, Alexander; sisters, Mary Glenn of Benton and Glenda Blair of Haskell; three grandchildren.
Graveside services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Ten Mile Cemetery with Pastor Matt Thornton officiating.
Visitation will be at Ashbys, Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. [from Ashby Funeral Home online obituary] [Benton Class of 1967]

Gipson, Johnny Earl

Johnnie Earl Gipson, aged 43, co-owner of Crank's IGA Foodliner on Edison Avenue, died Friday at Saline Memorial Hospital.
Gipson, who resided at 1713 Chitwood, was a member of the Parkview United Methodist Church and a veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion, Forty and Eight club, Trace Creek Country Club and Trace Creek Men's Golf Association. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 34 and was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Scottish Rite. He was also a member of the Scimitar Shrine where he served as director of the class directors' staff.
He was a past president of the Benton Jaycees and was named the Outstanding Young Man of Saline County in 1963. He had been named to the Outstanding Young Men of America and was a graduate of a Dale Carnegie course.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Mary Sue Baxley Gipson; three daughters, Miss Kim Gipson, Miss Karen Gipson and Miss Konnie Gipson, all of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Crank of Benton; a stepbrother, Terry Crank of Benton; and his step-grandmother, Mrs. R. E. Crank of Hope.
Funeral was at 10 a.m. today at the Parkview United Methodist church with Rev. Paul Barrington officiating. Burial was at Pinecrest Memorial Park by Ashby Funeral Service. [from the Benton Courier, April 17, 1978, page 1] [Benton Class of 1952]

Green, Virgle Freddie

Virgle Freddie Green, beloved husband, father grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend passed away on January 30, 2017. He was born February 10, 1922, at Paron, Arkansas, to the late Robert and Bertha Green. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his wife Jeanette E. Moss Green, son, Freddie V. 'Rusty' Green, brothers, Walter Green, James Green, Charlie Green, Sisters, Gladys Farrell and Inez Taylor.
Virgle is survived by three daughters, Jan G. Green, Kimberlee Green Autry (Alan), Tonya Green Morgan (Jody); son, Bill Moss (Betty), four grandsons, Parker Green Snider (Ilaria) Trevor Cain (Elizabeth), Austin Autry, Brent Moss, four granddaughters, Heather Autry, Chloe Morgan and Lucy Morgan, Brandi Moss, one great granddaughter, Coraline and one great-grandson, Kaden Carter; two sisters, Goldie Reece (Loy) and Sylvia Risen.
He graduated in 1941 from Paron High School. A year later he enlisted in the Army and was stationed to the South Pacific which included the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Philipino guerilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The Battle of Leyte contributed decisively to cracking of the strong Japanese defense of 'Breakneck Ridge' and paved the way for the advance of American troop toward Ormoc. The men of the 2nd Battalion, 190th Infantry Regiment, by their outstanding courage, fortitude and tactical skill wrote a stirring chapter in American military history. For his service in this area and for other battles during the war he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Philippine Liberation ribbon with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, World war II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II. After his return from military service he moved to the family farm in Paron and later went to barber school in Little Rock. During this time he met his wife Jean, the love of his life, who was enrolled in beauty school there. They were married for 58 years before her death in June 2010. Although barber school didn't take place until after his military service he already knew how to cut hair while he was on active duty and began cutting his buddies' hair when he was serving overseas. "I made a swivel chair out of apple crates on Good Enough Island and put a big bolt in the center to hold the crates in place." On-the job training like this made the formal instruction later on a breeze. After starting and operating the Benton Barber Shop for 12 years he began purchasing numerous pieces of real estate and began a real estate business, Green Real Estate. Virgle was a visionary…His ability to envision what others couldn't see or understand when it came to developing subdivisions or shopping centers was an inspiration to many. He fought tirelessly for the Salem Water Users Association rights and at the age of 80 he led a public protest march for those rights to remain in Saline County. Virgle was a long time member of Sharon Baptist Church, Benton Lions Club and the Benton Chamber of Commerce. As passionate as he was about real estate, Virgle was never happier than when he was at home with his family. Virgle's loyalty to his family and friends was second to none and he lived a life of integrity that was admired by all who knew him. Virgle and his family are grateful to his wonderful caregiver, Joanna Honnebrink, and to Briarwood Nursing Home, especially his favorite nurse Jeanette who helped make his final days filled with love, grace and compassion.
A service honoring his life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 3rd at Sharon Baptist Church, 402 Shenandoah, Benton, AR. 72019 with Pastors Don Richardson and Michael Reese officiating. Internment will follow at Fowler Cemetery in Paron, Arkansas.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday February 2, 2017, at Ashby Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Saline County Boys and Girls Club, Methodist Family Health or Sharon Baptist Church. [from Ashby Funeral Home online obituary] [Paron Class of 1941]