of Little Rock, AR

July 2, 1946 - May 25, 2022

Eugene Arlie Baumgardner, of Little Rock, went home to be with the Lord, May 25th, 2022. Gene is survived by his loving wife Dorcas, of 53 years, his daughter Lorri Yung(Curtis), his son Jonathan T Baumgardner, his 3 beloved granddaughters Chandler, Campbell, and Carsyn, his brother John D Baumgardner, 4 sisters, Debbie Stapper(John), Diane Riley, Karen Cain, and Kathy Flynn(Kevin ''KC''), sister in-law Linda Carmosino(Richard), and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Gene was preceded in his journey to Heaven by his father and beloved stepmother John and Joy Baumgardner, his mother Virginia Baumgardner, brother Gerald Baumgardner, and sister-in-law Rowene Miller (Walter).

Papoo was a loving and adored grandfather, who spent most of his time watching his grand girls dance their hearts out in recitals, online, and all around his home. He was affectionately dubbed Papoo by his first grandchild Chandler, in whom she found a best friend. He was a loving and compassionate man who shared this humble trait with his second grandchild Campbell. Our beloved Papoo was blessed with a wit that never ended, which gloriously lives on in his third grandchild Carsyn.

Gene was married to his high school sweetheart, Dorcas. They were head over heels for 60 years...well at least he was...she may have taken a little time to warm up to him, but they were married for 53 loving years, so I guess one could say he won her heart for Eternity. There was no greater love in his life than his wife.

Dorcas and Gene had two children, Lorri and Jonathan, for whom he was the very best father. He strived to make every gymnastics meet, recital, play, ball game, or any other activity where he could show his support. There was never a time when his children could doubt their father's, unwavering love. There are many men who are fathers in this world, but this man truly earned the title of Dad.

Gene graduated from Hall Highschool in 1964. Then attended Arkansas State Teachers College, now UCA, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Staff Sargent Eugene A Baumgardner, enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 1970, where ''Private Baumgardner'' worked his way up quickly, partially due to an incident when he was 3 that left his middle finger immobile, and a subsequent toss of a rake, that almost had him discharged for insubordination.

He worked in the garment industry for Dillard's department stores for 11 years, before becoming a manufacturer's representative, introducing the world to having a flying mallard on their shirt.

Gene loved the lake. When they were still in high school, he and Dorcas would go to Lake Hamilton and spend their days water skiing and having a good time. When he was young, his father would take he and his brothers down to Florida where they would ski at the famed Cypress Gardens. He taught his own children, and several of their friends and cousins, even an uncle or two hanging out at the Baumgardner family lake property, how to water ski. One of his favorite past times there, was gathering up as many pairs of skis, ski ropes, life jackets, and kids, as he could find, and see just how many water-skiers he could pull down the lake at one time. He loved taking his boat over to the sand bar on Lake Catherine and playing water volleyball with his friends and family. When his grandchildren were born, he insisted on weekends at the lake as a family, and his grandgirls learning how to drive the party barge and learning how to ski. They all made him proud.

Gene and the Baumgardner's, gained a wonderful extension to their family circle, when they were at CHI St.Vincent. Gratitude would be too simple of a word to use for the time and effort of all of the nurses, staff, therapists, and doctors who lovingly attended to Gene. Dr.Thurston Bauer, Dr. Muhammad Waqas, and Dr.Brad Baltz, were not only excellent doctors, but they are amazingly compassionate and caring men, who did everything they could do, to add time to his life, to spend with his family and friends. The nurses, staff, and therapists, loved Gene throughout his journey in their care, and for the entire group, they should know he loved them all dearly and his family will forever be in their debt.

There was never a soul that Gene did not try to make laugh or smile. He was regarded by those who knew him as a funny, friendly, kind, man who never met a stranger. In this world, they say one minute of laughter can add five minutes to your life. For those of you who were blessed to experience the humor of Gene, I'm sure he would ask that you spend all that extra time he gave you, laughing with friends, enjoying your children and grandchildren, spending time with the Lord, and if you are lucky enough to have a wife like his, share every moment the two of you can together.

A celebration of his life will be held at Fellowship Bible Church, 1401 Kirk Dr, Little Rock, AR 72223, on Saturday, June 11 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to his favorite charity, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (www.T2T.org).

Friends and loved ones, I will leave you all with these profound and parting words from my father,

''I Love My Wife.''

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com