Patricia Ruth PORTER KULBETH

Fred
May 26, 1924 - September 15, 2013

Married August 26, 1950

Patricia
March 21, 1932 - April 14, 2020

Obituary
Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home
Monticello, Arkansas

Fred Deonal Kulbeth, 89, of Wilmar, Arkansas died September 15, 2013 at his home.
He was born to Curtis Deonal Kulbeth and Gladys Wright Kulbeth, May 26, 1924, in Wilmar, Arkansas.

Fred is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Ruth Porter, and by two sisters, Kathryn Siedell of Richardson, TX and Joan Smith of Oklahoma City, OK.
He is also survived by 10 children (2 sons and 8 daughters), 40 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren. His children are: James Deonal (Patricia), Fountain, CO, Roger (Olivia), Stafford, VA, Teresa (David Hocking), Raleigh, NC, Carolyn (Blaine Kennington), Castle Rock, WA, Anita (Rod Lyon), Sandy, UT, Belinda (James Shaw), Sandy, UT, Janice (Ron Gneiting), Parker, CO, Virginia (Jody Lemmon), Allen, TX, Marsha Fletcher, Vancouver, WA, Nancy (Rick Bloxham), Pocatello, ID.

Fred graduated from Wilmar High School in 1941. He served in the Army at the end of WWII in Fujiya, Japan where he met General Douglas McArthur. He received a BS/BA degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas in 1953, interrupting his studies at the University to serve in the National Guard and Korean Conflict.

Fred and Patricia lived in LaPorte, Texas for 22 years before moving back to Wilmar, Arkansas. Fred enjoyed participating in community improvements, helping establish the Barkada Water Association and Volunteer Fire Department. He was a Master Gardener and Boy Scouts of America volunteer.

Fred was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and considered his family to be his greatest blessing.

He was a farmer at heart and he loved music, writing poetry, and stargazing.

Obituary
Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home
Monticello, Arkansas

Patricia Ruth Porter Kulbeth, 88, of Wilmar, Arkansas died 14 April 2020 at her
home in a house fire. She was the youngest child of Henry Otis Porter and Eurice
Dewitt Ingram Porter, born 21 March 1932 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She married
Fred Deonal Kulbeth on 26 August 1950 in Fayetteville.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, parents and all her siblings: James
Otis, Daniel Dewitt and Rosemary Porter York. Patricia is survived by her 10
children (2 sons and 8 daughters), 40 grandchildren, and 73 great-grandchildren. Her
children are: James Deonal (Patricia), Fountain, CO; Roger (Olivia), Stafford, VA; Teresa (David
Hocking), Raleigh, NC; Carolyn (Blaine Kennington), Castle Rock, WA; Anita (Rod Lyon), Sandy, UT;
Belinda (James Shaw), Roan Mountain, TN; Janice (Ron Gneiting), Parker, CO; Virginia (Jody
Lemmon), Allen, TX; Marsha (Mark VandeVoorde), Vancouver, WA; Nancy (Richard Bloxham),
Pocatello, ID. Her greatest joy in this life was her family. She sent out over 210 family birthday and
anniversary cards each year with a $2 bill tucked inside. She treasured each phone call and counted every
visit.
Mother was a homemaker in every sense of the word. She created a happy home for many more than just
her ten children. Meal times were magic. Flowers filled the yard and decorated the table. Clothes crafted
lovingly for every need. Abundant garden produce shared and preserved. The gospel of Jesus Christ was
loved and taught. Music and poetry filled her home. Just last year she did her own song and two-step
dance routine dressed for the County Home Extension State meeting in Western gear. She was a selftaught professional seamstress and imparted those skills to hundreds. She was hired as the first Fabric
Department manager when Wal-Mart opened in Monticello in 1981. She worked there for 19 years, where
her positive attitude was contagious. She warmed the hearts of every customer.
“Miss Patricia,” as she was known by the whole community, served with a smile in a myriad of
organizations, including Master Gardeners of the Delta, the County Home Extension office, EHC Town &
Country Quilters, Andrew’s Chapel Cemetery Assn., and fundraising for the Drew County Library—
chairing the Chocolate Extravaganza for over a decade. She delighted in the County Fair and proudly
brought home over 100 ribbons each year. She also judged at other fairs in the state.
Homemade bread was her signature gift. All enjoyed receiving a loaf of her delicious bread. She provided
the sacramental bread for her congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over
40 years. She gave a lifetime of service in the local church organization as president of the children’s
Primary and the women’s Relief Society, as well as ministering in love wherever she could.
She will be greatly missed, but her legacy lives on in the many gifts and talents freely shared. She was
always learning and sharing; helping others teach a new generation what they learned from her. Her
circle of influence, service, and love lives on.
We believe Christ has made it possible to be with our families forever. She now joins Fred and her
extended family in a heavenly realm and awaits our arrival to spend eternity together with our God.
No funeral service will be held at this time due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Her final resting place will
be beside her husband in the Andrews Chapel Cemetery in Barkada Township in Drew County. A
memorial will be planned in the future when family and friends can freely gather. It will be posted in The
Advance-Monticellonian and through Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home.

Contributed on 4/26/22 by deltabelle55
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Record #: 1430148

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