David Stracener

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Graduated high School with Oran. When I bought my first house him and Penny lived across the street. We became best friends and running buddies. Absolutely loved Penny and the kids. It was truly a great chapter in my life, and I learned so much from him. He got me on the sidelines at the Razorback games! Got to meet Lou Holtz and other celebrities because of Oran. Watch the game from the press box after the first half. But as good as that was the best times we're just setting in our living rooms and just living life and growing up and raising kids and being friends. I guess I never laughed so hard when I was around Oran. It was always happy times. I love Oran and Penny and their children. I miss him already.

David Stracener

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Graduated high School with Oran. When I bought my first house him and Penny lived across the street. We became best friends and running buddies. Absolutely loved Penny and the kids. It was truly a great chapter in my life, and I learned so much from him. He got me on the sidelines at the Razorback games! Got to meet Lou Holtz and other celebrities because of Oran. Watch the game from the press box after the first half. But as good as that was the best times we're just setting in our living rooms and just living life and growing up and raising kids and being friends. I guess I never laughed so hard when I was around Oran. It was always happy times. I love Oran and Penny and their children. I miss him already.

Richard and Lorena McConnell

Friday, June 6, 2025

Penny, Christina and the rest of the family our thoughts and prayers are with you all. So sorry for your loss.

Luanne Blaylock

Thursday, June 5, 2025

I knew Oran and Penny only through their business in Maumelle. They were both so nice. Oran was charming, friendly, and interesting. I did not know many details about his past life until reading this loving obituary. I am not surprised to find he led such a successful life. He was always so willing to help and support his community. He bought raffle tickets many years to support a nonprofit organization that helped persons with vision loss. He won one year! My prayers go to his sweet wife and family. He will be missed. 🙏♥️🕊️

Chuck Dovish

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Still not believing this, especially after Ed Buckner's passing. Oran and I had fun times filming "Travelin' Arkansas" segments and doing live shots at the AR State Fair.
Will never forget the one segment we did at the Buckstaff bath house where I was sitting in a one person sauna..and the seat gave out, so I abruptly disappeared down into it. -Well, Oran being the jokester he was..added the sound of a toilet flushing in the video when it aired- so, lo & behold..this reporter was flushed down the toilet! Lol!!

David Gruber

Monday, June 2, 2025

My friend. You were always available when I needed neighborly help. I never heard you say unkind words about anyone. We watched our children grow up in this neighborhood since the early 80's and you and Penny were the best of neighbors and friends. May you rest in peace🙏

Scarlett Morgan

Monday, June 2, 2025

So many prayers and love to Penny and family.
Oran was a great friend and co-worker. Although he usually did all the photo and editor hiring at THV, he didn't hire me. I snuck in on him, by way of the News Director at the time John Rehrauer. It was always our joke that I was the team member he didn't know he needed. And although he didn't hire me, he always treated me as one of his own. There are just no words to say what a great person Oran. Teacher, Mentor and friend. Always fun and engaging, even in highly stressful situations. You knew he had your back and it was all going to work out. I'm a better person for knowing you Oran. Rest easy my friend, until I see you again.

Davie Jacobs

Monday, June 2, 2025

I have known on for probably 30 years he was my neighbor and over the years getting to know 0ran and Penny was probably one of the best bright spots in my life to know such wonderful people. I have watched 0ran go through some pretty hard time fighting this disease. Most men would have just given up if they had to go through what he went through . If he had surgery or something one day and you was to run into him that same day he was still be the same one that he always was he was so tough dealing with this I have always admired him for the braveness that he always had. I will surely miss him and I will never forget him. To my friend rest in peace oran

Renee Westbrook

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Oran was my cousin and best friend all my life. We were less than one month apart in age. We went through high school together and unfortunately we went our separate ways for several years. But we did stay in touch on the phone. Sometimes we talked every few weeks and sometimes every few. But we stayed connected. Oran was always eager to tell me about Penny and his lovely family
Their was no doubt that his heart belonged to Penny and his kids. We shared family memories, laughed and even cried. Penny I wasn't supposed to tell you that he cried. No one will ever replace you in my heart...I miss you already. My love and prayers to your family.

Sam Coulter

Sunday, June 1, 2025

I'm so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed meeting him and he obviously leaves a huge and wonderful legacy of a great family he helped build. I pray for peace and grace for you and your family.

William (Fred) Miller

Sunday, June 1, 2025

My Heartfelt condolences for all the Hardcastle Family , May he rest in Peace. God Bless the Family !
He was really a good & hard working Friend and will be missed greatly.

Dewey Spencer

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Met Oran while he was cameraman for a THV reporter covering events at the U.S. Army Pine Bluff Arsenal several times during the 1980s chemical weapons build-up, as I served as chief of public affairs. He was always professional and interesting to talk with. Just a nice guy you would want to know. May God show his blessings for Oran's family.

Joyce Williams

Sunday, June 1, 2025

I was so sad to see that Oran has passed away. He was a wonderful man, and a consummate professional. I appreciated his calm nature and dry sense of humor.

I met Oran when we both worked for the 90th Regional Readiness Command, U.S. Army Reserve at Camp Pike in North Little Rock. I believe Oran had joined the 90th after serving with the Arkansas National Guard. We both worked in Public Affairs. I really got to know him when we joined forces on one particular project. Military duty creates a kind of camaraderie that nothing else does. We were sent to Ft. Bliss, Texas to cover a huge Army training exercise for the 90th. I was doing the print work and Oran was doing video. Part of his mission was to find footage for a video presentation. Oran knew exactly what shots he wanted. One particular shot took us on an hours-long jeep trip looking for a rattlesnake. Now during a hot day in the desert at Ft. Bliss, an active rattle snake is not an easy find. But we drove the dusty desert roads with our eyes peeled for an active snake. We finally found one on the road, got passed it and Oran jumped out of the jeep and ran back ''to shoot it.'' But he didn't just want a snake slithering on the road. No, he wanted a rattlesnake. And he wanted it to rattle. So he swung his big video camera at the snake to tick it off. And he did! The snake got up and rattled, ready to strike. And it was a big snake! Oran tormented him until he got just the shot and the sound he was looking for. The final video product he edited included as the opening shot the footage of that angry snake standing tall and rattling against the blue desert sky. It was perfect!

I'm sure he probably had to edit out my screaming in the background to be careful and not get bit. We were out in the middle of nowhere and I knew it would not be a good thing if he got bit by a rattlesnake.

I will always remember my friend Oran and honor his military career as well as his career at KTHV.

I'm so sorry for his family's loss and hope all their good memories of Oran will help them through this tough time. He will be missed by many.

Chuck Weaver

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Utmost condolences to all who mourn our loss of this precious man. I joined KTHV in June 1972 and with Oran's 1983 arrival at KTHV I witnessed him working tirelessly to make our world a better place. By the time we had both retired from there he had succeeded in making me feel like a blood brother I never had. My personal life changed ln March 1997 as Ed Buckner, Oran and I worked together nonstop for 3 days covering Sardis Road. All Oran ever asked for his efforts was to be given the opportunity to help. During those 3 days he and Ed taught me enough to fill a diy book on how to be a great person. I will always know there are untold people who will never forget Oran. I join JY in saying I love you are resting in peace.

Glynda Duncan

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Besides being a great friend, Oran and I worked at the Searcy Daily Citizen. It was my first job out of college, and, as Sports Editor, we worked every weekend at games and most week nights.
Oran watched over me like a big brother the 4 years I was there. He was a consumate professional. So talented. He was so funny and made work a joy. I remember his love for Penny and his children. I only got to meet two of his children before moving to work in Mississippi. I tried to keep up with his career at KTHV and was so proud of him and for him. Rest in peace my friend. Thoughts and prayers for Penny and his beautiful family.

Patricia Wheeler

Saturday, May 31, 2025

As Oran's sister-in-law I was given the blessing of knowing Oran as a child and as an adult. His brother, James Wheeler, and I were childhood sweethearts. James enlisted during the Vietnam War and served four years aboard submarines. We married in 1966 and after that time, Oran visited us everywhere we lived. He was such a happy boy and as an adult, he maintained that joy of life. He was excellent at anything his hands touched. Always with a smile and a kind word and maybe a joke or two. As a believer in Jesus Christ, heaven becomes more real to me every day as loved ones go on before. Let the circle be unbroken so that families may join together in worship and awe at the feet of Jesus.

Jim mayes

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Met Oran and Penny as their UPS at their business and soon became their neighbor. He was a wonderful friend and neighbor and will be missed very much! Was a pleasure getting to know him.

Jeff Herzer

Saturday, May 31, 2025

I was a reporter at 11 from 1982-86 and I was always happy when Oran and I were teamed together on daily assignments. He was a workhorse whose product was consistently excellent. I believe his videography elevated an otherwise mundane story we did into a piece that won us a first place Associated Press news award one year.

I'm happy to read Oran had a full and rewarding career, which is not always easy to do in media work. He had it because he was a great talent and a great workmate.

Lucy Himstedt

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Oran and I spent many, many days together criss-crossing Arkansas in search of news. It was long ago in the days before cell phones and hit or miss service on two-way radios, so we spent hours just talking while we drove to and from our assignments. He was such a talented photojournalist and more importantly, a good friend. They were great times early in our careers. My condolences to Penny and the whole family. RIP, Oran.

Pamela and Mike Inscoe

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Rest in peace friend. You will be missed.

David Moore

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Condolences to his family and friends. I knew Oran from when I worked at KTHV-11 in the late 80's. He always seemed upbeat with a smile on his face. Gone too soon.

Mike Narisi

Saturday, May 31, 2025

I'm so sad Penny. He was a fighter for sure and a good good guy

John Young

Friday, May 30, 2025

Oran hired me at THV in 2000 for the photog staff. I'm still here and remember all the lessons he taught me. It was great fun to follow the hogs all over the SEC shooting games and Oran running the sat truck for hogzone. I'll always remember his professionalism and patience with the job behind the scenes. He was a good guy and a great mentor for dozens of photographers over the years. Oran's smart mouth and sense of humor will be missed. Take care brother… I'll see you again someday.

Lamar and Debbie Porter

Friday, May 30, 2025

Our condolences to the family. Years ago we were neighbors and became close friends. Our kids grew up with their kids. Unfortunately after moving we did not stay in touch. Sad for that.