of Little Rock, AR
August 30, 1928 - July 3, 2008
Val G. Carithers, of Little Rock, died July 3, 2008. Born in North Little Rock on August 30, 1928, he was the son of Benny and Bernadetta (Jacobs) Carithers and the stepson of Paul M. Doolin, all of North Little Rock.
Survivors include his beloved wife Dee, sons Clay Carithers of Tallahassee, Florida, Alan (Judy) Carithers of San Diego, California, and Lewis Willmuth of Worcester, Massachusetts; four grandchildren; brother M. Patrick (Bettye) Carithers of Sherwood, Arkansas, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Val was a graduate of North Little Rock High School (1946), Little Rock Junior College (1948) and the University of Central Arkansas (1953). He was in the United States Air Force from 1951-1954, serving in Korea. Later, he was an officer in the Arkansas National Guard and was on active duty in the United States Army during the Little Rock Central High School crisis in 1957.
For forty-one years he was employed by Reynolds Metals Company (Reynolds Aluminum) in Bauxite, Arkansas, retiring in 1998 as Director of Research and Development/Manager of the Alumina and Ceramics Laboratory. A long time member of the American Chemical Society and the American Ceramic Society, Val was recognized for his expertise in the fields of alumina ceramics and aluminum chemicals. He held several related United States, British, Canadian and Japanese patents and had authored several society published papers.
In his retirement years he especially enjoyed world travel with his favorite traveling companion, Dee, fishing on the White River, reading and serving as a volunteer for the Health Management Group at the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.
A "Remembrance Reception" will be held Friday, July 18. Call 664-6917 for more information.
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25 Condolence(s)
Marty Wicks
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Dee and all,
Val is a dear friend who is very much a part of our family. What makes Val special is that I've never heard him say a negative word. So, he is remembered as always being cheerful, and that's rare. Our hearts are with you.
Love,
Marty
Mary Jo Wicks
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Dee and family,
We have all lost a special person who was kind, loving and supportive. How fortunate we were to have had him in our lives. My children and grandchildren think of Dee and Val as part of our family. Val will live on in our hearts forever.
Love, Mary Jo
Claud Stratton
Monday, July 14, 2008
Dee and sons,
My condolences. I enjoyed many years working with Val and I will always remember him as trustworthy, intelligent, caring and kind. He will be missed by his many colleagues.
Claud L Stratton, retired
Alumina Research Division, Reynolds Metals Company
Mary Lou Cabbiness
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dee: What a gentle person Val was. His sweet spirit always shown through. I will miss seeing him proudly standing by you at the Arts Center. All of your friends, including me, are always here for you. Love, Mary Lou
Edwina Keith
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dee, I am thinking about you. I was so sorry to hear about Val.
Much love,
Edwina
Tom McDaniel
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dee, thinking of you and your loss.
Skipworth
Friday, July 11, 2008
We are sadden by Val's death. We will all miss him. Things will not be the same when we get together. Our pray is that we all remember the good things and God gives you His strength, love, and peace. Your friends always, Jean,and Buddy
Alan D. Carithers
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My father gave of himself freely to others; both within and outside of the family. His many suggestions to me provided gentle nudges of direction and guidance which will remain with me for the remainder of my days. Val Gene was loved by many, and will undoubtedly be missed by all who knew him.
Daddy truly was my hero, and will remain so in my heart and thoughts.
Hallie McCarthy
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dee,
May you find peace during this difficult time. I will remember Val as a loving and caring husband and godfather to my two boys. You and Val have been family to us for many years. We will miss him deeply. Love, Hallie
Dr. Scott Simmons
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Mrs. Carithers,
I was so sorry to see Mr. Val in the newspaper this weekend. I truly enjoyed meeting and talking with him during his first hospitalization. He actually politely mentioned that I must have other people to see; but I was truly enjoying our conversation. I hope that you are doing OK, given the circumstances. Please accept my deepest sympathy over your loss.
Dr. Scott Simmons
Assistant Professor
UAMS Department of Geriatrics
Caroline Foster
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Dee,
I am very sorry for your loss. Val will be remembered by us as a bright & endearing man, and especially as a loving father & grandfather.
With sympathy,
Caroline Foster
David Wilson
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
We are all saddened. Our condolences to each family member & friend. Val was truly a generous and thoughtful man.
Barbara McDonald
Monday, July 7, 2008
Dear Dee, You've been much in my thoughts these recent weeks. I can only imagine the struggle you and Val have endured. He is at peace now, and I hope that you soon will find a measure of peace in the support and love of your friends and family. Lovingly, Barbara
Frank Viguerie
Monday, July 7, 2008
Dee,
I will miss him. He played an important role in my life and I will always remember the time we had together.
brenda harder
Monday, July 7, 2008
WE WILL MISS MR VAL VERY AT THE BRI POOL HE WAS A VERY SWEET MAN YOU ARE IN ARE PRAYERS
Barbara Schwerman
Monday, July 7, 2008
I wanted to give my condolences to Val's family. We worked out in the BRI pool 3 mornings a week. Mr Val as one of the pool goers called him, was a super person and I enjoyed hearing about his travels. I hope he and his wife were able to visit all 50 US state capitols. He said it was his wife's goal. I will truly miss seeing him walk around the pool and visiting with him. I am amazed at the things he has acomplished in his life. He was a very humble man. God bless to the family. I will keep the family in my prayers. Please let me know about the remembrance reception. I would be honored to go and meet his wonderful family. He spoke so lovingly of them.
Mike & Linda Porter
Sunday, July 6, 2008
We were proud to have Val in our family after he married Dee. He was a gracious soul that we will miss so much and we were fortunate to have known and loved him. We know that he will not be forgotten by any of our family.
Ragon Willmuth
Sunday, July 6, 2008
My sympathy to all the family.
Jeanne McDaniel
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dee, Val's passing is a shock and a real loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. You all have been such a pleasure to see at Bennye's and at the Arts Center. I'll miss him very much. Jeanne McDaniel
Betty Wheeler
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dee, our thoughts, are with you, during this time of grief. I cannot know the pain, you feel, but my friendship with you, grieves me too. Take care of yourself, they say, time heals the pain. Betty and John
Lynda Abney
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dee.....May I extend my deepest sympathy on your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know, only too well, how difficult it is to loose ones lifetime companion. You are fortunate to have family and close friends who will most certainly provide you with love and support.
Sincerely....................Lynda Dixon Abney
Gary & Mary Ann Guinn
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Our love and prayers are with you as you grieve and adjust to life without Val. He was such a caring and thoughtful person.
John & Jo Lynn Van Wert
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Dee and your family. We have lost a very dear friend.
Carolyn Choate
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dee, I was so saddened to hear of Val's death. He certainly was a very special person and I admired how much you were the love of his life. I know this time will be hard for you, but please know that you are in my prayers, and that your wonderful memories of Val will always be with you to cherish and for you to draw strength from whenever you need it. Thinking of you, Carolyn R. Choate
Charlesand Sherlyn Cale
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Dee: our prayers are with you at this time. We are so saddened by the news of Val's death. We appreciate the time we spent with you both and fondly remember the wonderful lunch with those prized tomatoes. We would like to come to the remembrance if possible, keep us informed. Love, Charlie and Sherlyn