Ola Gray Philpott, 105, of Van Buren, Arkansas died Saturday, February 5, 2005, in Van Buren. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Margaret Ella Ray and William Russell Gray. She was born in Marble, Arkansas on May 24, 1899. The gray family, accompanied by W.R. Gray’s father, moved to Springdale around 1906. Ola told of the family putting all of its worldly goods on and behind wagons for the move that took two days. Occasionally the younger children ran alongside the wagons to break the monotony of the trip. The entourage rested for the night at a campground in the Spring Valley Community, about the halfway mark of the journey.
Around 1917, Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amy Jones and family and attends Draughn’s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer “Cap” Philpott from the Army, Ola and Cap were married on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington and in Portland, Oregon and later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived, and Cap sold Oriental rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also, so the couple shared housing.
In the mid 1920s the Philpotts returned to Fort Smith, and for nearly 20 years they lived on Rogers Avenue, where their home and service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpotts retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they build a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Have no children of her own didn’t cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. “The Farm” was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale and may chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately known as “Aunt Ola” and “Uncle Cap” to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola’s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a “care” package of plants. She was a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th birthday part for her in May 1999. She said “I’ve worked hard all my life, and hard work never hurt anyone. I’ve lived a full life and I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes – two on the farm, many years ago, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as the regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer “Cap” Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings, Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 2201 S. Dallas St. Fort smith, AR 72901; or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
Information was contributed to Find A Grave by Tonia Holleman if you have any additional information or corrections you can contact Tonia at [email protected].
Around 1917, Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amy Jones and family and attends Draughn’s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer “Cap” Philpott from the Army, Ola and Cap were married on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington and in Portland, Oregon and later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived, and Cap sold Oriental rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also, so the couple shared housing.
In the mid 1920s the Philpotts returned to Fort Smith, and for nearly 20 years they lived on Rogers Avenue, where their home and service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpotts retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they build a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Have no children of her own didn’t cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. “The Farm” was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale and may chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately known as “Aunt Ola” and “Uncle Cap” to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola’s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a “care” package of plants. She was a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th birthday part for her in May 1999. She said “I’ve worked hard all my life, and hard work never hurt anyone. I’ve lived a full life and I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes – two on the farm, many years ago, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as the regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer “Cap” Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings, Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 2201 S. Dallas St. Fort smith, AR 72901; or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
Information was contributed to Find A Grave by Tonia Holleman if you have any additional information or corrections you can contact Tonia at [email protected].
Ola Gray Philpott, 105, of Van Buren, Arkansas died Saturday, February 5, 2005, in Van Buren. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Margaret Ella Ray and William Russell Gray. She was born in Marble, Arkansas on May 24, 1899. The gray family, accompanied by W.R. Gray’s father, moved to Springdale around 1906. Ola told of the family putting all of its worldly goods on and behind wagons for the move that took two days. Occasionally the younger children ran alongside the wagons to break the monotony of the trip. The entourage rested for the night at a campground in the Spring Valley Community, about the halfway mark of the journey.
Around 1917, Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amy Jones and family and attends Draughn’s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer “Cap” Philpott from the Army, Ola and Cap were married on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington and in Portland, Oregon and later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived, and Cap sold Oriental rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also, so the couple shared housing.
In the mid 1920s the Philpotts returned to Fort Smith, and for nearly 20 years they lived on Rogers Avenue, where their home and service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpotts retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they build a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Have no children of her own didn’t cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. “The Farm” was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale and may chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately known as “Aunt Ola” and “Uncle Cap” to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola’s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a “care” package of plants. She was a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th birthday part for her in May 1999. She said “I’ve worked hard all my life, and hard work never hurt anyone. I’ve lived a full life and I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes – two on the farm, many years ago, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as the regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer “Cap” Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings, Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 2201 S. Dallas St. Fort smith, AR 72901; or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
Information was contributed to Find A Grave by Tonia Holleman if you have any additional information or corrections you can contact Tonia at [email protected].
Around 1917, Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amy Jones and family and attends Draughn’s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer “Cap” Philpott from the Army, Ola and Cap were married on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington and in Portland, Oregon and later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived, and Cap sold Oriental rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also, so the couple shared housing.
In the mid 1920s the Philpotts returned to Fort Smith, and for nearly 20 years they lived on Rogers Avenue, where their home and service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpotts retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they build a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Have no children of her own didn’t cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. “The Farm” was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale and may chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately known as “Aunt Ola” and “Uncle Cap” to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola’s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a “care” package of plants. She was a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th birthday part for her in May 1999. She said “I’ve worked hard all my life, and hard work never hurt anyone. I’ve lived a full life and I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes – two on the farm, many years ago, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as the regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer “Cap” Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings, Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 2201 S. Dallas St. Fort smith, AR 72901; or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
Information was contributed to Find A Grave by Tonia Holleman if you have any additional information or corrections you can contact Tonia at [email protected].
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