Obituaries

David L. Speed

David L. Speed, 73, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died Monday, June 27, 2016, at the Ozark Community Hospital in Gravette, Ark. He was born May 29, 1943, in Siloam Springs to Robert and Cleta Simpson.

He was of the Pentecostal faith. He enjoyed singing gospel music and playing his guitar.

He was preceded in death by a son, Robert L. Speed; a grandson, Michael Speed; a brother, Lonnie Speed; and a sister, Dorothy Rankin.

He is survived by two grandchildren, David Speed and Samantha Sanchez; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Wanda Straub of Fremont, Calif., Freda Gibbs of Siloam Springs, and Betty Duncan of Decatur, Ark.; and special friend and caregiver Ruby Willis of Siloam Springs.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at Bell Cemetery in Watts, Okla., with Rich Davis officiating.

Backstrom -- Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs is in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Dale Hartman

Ralph Dale Hartman, son of Arthur and Ruby Hartman, was born June 23, 1933, on his family's farm south of Berlin, Okla., where his family had lived since 1900, and died June 27, 2016, at the age of 83.

Ralph attended school at Doxey and Berlin. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1951, he enrolled at Harding College, a Christian College in Searcy, Ark., from which he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1955.

While fulfilling his Selective Service at Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, Ind., Ralph was introduced to a young lady by the name of Nancy Randolph. They were married on December 27, 1958, in Oklahoma City.

Ralph served on the Board of Directors of the Beckham County Farm Bureau and later as President. He accepted employment with the U. S. Department of Agriculture in May of 1970. He worked as ASCS County Executive Director of Latimer County, Ellis County and Roger Mills County, retiring after 35 years of service in 2005. Ralph was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Arnett and Cheyenne, serving one term as President of each club.

Throughout his years of USDA employment, Ralph and his family continued to live and work on the family farm where he was born. He liked to mention that although this might indicate to some that he never ventured far from home, he was, in fact, a world traveler, having seen parts of four continents, twenty-three countries, forty-nine states and all seventy-seven Oklahoma counties.

Ralph was an active member of the church of Christ where he was involved in teaching Bible classes, singing at many funerals, fill-in preaching and serving as an elder. He was particularly pleased that all five of his children became Christians.

In the summer of 2013, after experiencing some serious health problems, Ralph and Nancy decided it was time to move closer to their children. They sold the farm, on which Ralph was born, and on which he and Nancy had lived for fifty-five years of their married life, and moved to Siloam Springs, Ark., where two of their four surviving children were living.

Ralph was preceded in death by his oldest son, Tim; an infant grandson, Noah Hartman; his brother-in-law, Morris Thurman; both parents; and an infant sister.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; four children and their spouses: Sharon and her husband, Kevin Suitor, of Owasso, Okla.; Doug and his wife, Jill, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; Jerry and his wife, Michelle, of Weatherford, Okla.; Carol and her husband, Dr. Carl Duncan, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; and one daughter-in-law, Audra (Hartman) Cavanaugh of Ardmore, Okla. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Madelyn, Elizabeth and Bennett Suitor; Matt and Marc Hartman and their wives Taylor and Tina; Kaylee, Amanda and Joshua Hartman; Hannah, Sarah and Leah Hartman; and Kyler, Kambryn and Avah Duncan; also by his sister, Claribel, and her husband, Dr. Jay Norman of Blanchard, Okla.; two nieces; along with many other relatives and friends.

The family will greet guests at Whinery-Savage Funeral Home in Elk City, Okla., on Friday, July 1, 2016, from 6:30 p.m. till 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 2, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the Second and Adams Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Berlin Cemetery under the direction of Whinery-Savage Funeral Service. Condolences may be made online at www.whineryfs.com

PAID OBITUARY