Sylvia KURANER MARIWETHER

Robert Winston, II
SERGEANT US Army
June 17, 1928 - May 8, 2010

Sylvia
Nov 4, 1928 - Oct 4, 2014

*Obituary

Sylvia Kuraner Meriwether passed away on October 4, 2014, and left this world a better place because of her presence in it. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 4, 1928, to Walter and Lela Moore Kuraner.

Sylvia attended public school in San Antonio and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1946. She traveled with her parents to Germany after World War II and lived there for four years. Later, while working in the administrative offices of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, she met the love of her life, Sgt. Robert Meriwether, from Paragould, Arkansas. Sylvia was thrilled to have a dance partner so much taller than herself. Bob and Sylvia married at the fort’s chapel on September 13, 1952, with a reception at the Menger Hotel, right across the street from the Alamo. They honeymooned in Paragould, Sylvia’s first trip to Arkansas.

Upon Bob’s discharge from the army, the couple moved to Paragould, where Bob taught high school. After the birth of their first child, a son, and with another child on the way, Sylvia traveled with her husband to Anna, Illinois, where Bob again taught high school. Their second child, also a son, was born there. Bob’s career took another step when he accepted the position of principal of Paragould High School, and Sylvia again moved her family. They lived in the home that had once been Bob’s grandmother’s, right next door to Sylvia’s in-laws. A third son was born in 1957.

In 1959, Bob accepted the position of Dean of Students at Hendrix College. Packing up their belongings and their three sons, Sylvia moved to Conway. Sylvia joined First United Methodist Church and various organizations, including the Hendrix Dames, the Conway Civic League, and a local chapter of PEO. Through all her associations, she continued to gather friends with her warm personality, gentle manners, and genuine kindness. Though she did not yet work outside the home, her three sons certainly kept her busy in the home.

On April 10, 1965, Sylvia and her family took cover as a tornado swept through Conway and destroyed the home they were living in on Fourth Street. The storm left intact only the walls of the room they were in. Later that year, Sylvia had another child, a daughter (finally). The family moved to Conway Boulevard in early 1966, buying a house for the first time. Sylvia lived in that house for 47 years. During the many hours she nurtured her family, Sylvia would often enjoy watching birds at the feeders outside her kitchen window.

In the 1970’s, with three sons in college, Sylvia began working outside the home. Her warmth and friendliness greeted patients at the newly opened Conway Medical Group, then later at the offices of pediatrician Dr. Paul Meredith and then dentist Dr. Ray Hambuchen. In the early 1980's, Sylvia began working at the Log Cabin Democrat as the society editor. She soon had to learn to use a word processor rather than a typewriter to write descriptions of the various engagements, showers, weddings, and anniversaries in Conway and the surrounding towns.

Sylvia and Bob spent their retirement years enjoying their grandchildren and traveling, including many trips with the Lost Mountain Group. She also spent many hours volunteering at the reception desk at Conway First United Methodist Church. Through all their lives’ adventures, Bob said that he couldn’t have chosen a better wife for himself and mother for his children than Sylvia, and Sylvia laughed at all of Bob’s stories and jokes, even the ones she’d heard many times. In his last years, Sylvia cared for Bob as he lost himself to dementia, but he always said that Sylvia was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.

Though she had enjoyed remarkable health for most of her life, Sylvia was challenged with some health issues in her last years. Her children were certain to hear from all her caregivers, “We love your mother. She’s so sweet.” Our reply was always, “Yes, we know.”
Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Robert W. Meriwether. She is survived by a sister, Gertrude Kuraner Albert, of College Station, Texas, and by four children: Will (Joy) Meriwether of Conway; David (Tine) Meriwether of Hood River, Oregon; Nick (Janet) Meriwether, of Portsmouth, Ohio; and Sarah Kate Meriwether (Keith) Coker of Conway. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren whom she adored: Ariana Meriwether (Joe) Petrella, and Rosalie Meriwether; Drew and Emily Meriwether; William, Katherine, and Jacqueline Meriwether; and Sam and Joe Coker. Sylvia will be greatly missed by extended family, a host of friends, and by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A Memorial Service will be held in her honor on October 10, 2014, at 10:00 am at Conway First United Methodist Church with Dr. Michael Roberts officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held at Roller McNutt Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Regina Iburg, Sandy Russell, and the staff of Home Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Conway First United Methodist Church Outreach Ministry.

*Obituary

Robert Winston Meriwether II, 81, educator and civic leader in Conway, died Saturday, May 8, at Heritage Living Center, after a long illness. Bob was born June 17, 1928, in Memphis, the son of William Winston and Rosalie Diffey Meriwether, and grew up in Paragould. He graduated from Paragould High School in 1945, from Hendrix College in 1949, and graduated with a Master of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1951.

He served two years in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Meriwether's teaching career began in 1947. He taught in the Lakeside School District, Lafe School District, at Greene County Tech High School, and in the Delaplaine School District. He was a social studies teacher at Paragould Senior High School, and he taught at the Anna-Jonesboro (Illinois) Community High School in 1954-55. He was principal and teacher at Paragould Senior High School from 1955 to 1959.

Mr. Meriwether served as dean of students at Hendrix College from 1959 through 1965 and was Professor of Education, Political Science, and American History there until his retirement in 1993. He was head of the Social Sciences area from 1982 through 1986. He was also director of workshops for the Arkansas Association of High School Student Councils from 1950 through 1970. In order to remain in touch with the reality of the public school classroom, Meriwether took sabbaticals from Hendrix and taught civics at Booker Junior High School (Little Rock) in 1973 and social studies at Greenbrier High School in 1981. He was the director of Arkansas Governor’s School for the Gifted and Talented in 1981 and 1982.

Mr. Meriwether was an active citizen of Conway and was well-known for his warm but bellowing voice as he went about his civic duties. He was a member of the Arkansas Constitutional Revision Study Commission in 1967, serving as chair of the Declaration of Rights Committee and leading in preparation of the report to the people.

Mr. Meriwether was elected to the Faulkner County Quorum Court (1973-1980) and presided over numerous marriages in Faulkner County during that time, donating his fees to charity. He was appointed by Gov. Dale Bumpers and re-appointed by Gov. David Pryor as the Arkansas delegate to the Education Commission of the States, serving four years. He was appointed by U. S. District Judge G. Thomas Eisele as the 9th “tie-breaking” member of the South Conway County School Board (1980-81).

He was interim executive director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission (1993-1994) and was appointed by Gov. Jim Guy Tucker to the Governor’s Task Force on Ethics, serving as chairman in 1994. Meriwether was appointed by Sen. Stanley Russ to the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners. He served six years as a member of the Oak Grove Cemetery Commission in Conway.
Other civic and professional activities included president of the Greene County Teachers Association; president of the Hendrix chapter of the American Association of University Professors; treasurer of the Clifton Day Care Center in Conway; chairman of the committee to re-stock the Van Buren County Library; president of the Faulkner County Historical Society; chairman of the Faulkner County Committee for the Bicentennial of the U. S. Constitution; original member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Conway; board of directors of the United Methodist Historical Society of Arkansas; editor, Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings (1983-89); chairman of the editing committee for History 2000 of the Arkansas United Methodist Church; president of the Conway Kiwanis Club (1995-96), and a member of the local Salvation Army Board.

Mr. Meriwether authored many articles dealing with constitutional revision, Arkansas newspapers, Hendrix College, and Faulkner County history, and the book Hendrix College: The Move from Altus to Conway. Meriwether also had a bit part in the 1973 film “White Lightning,” starring Burt Reynolds.

His many awards include Outstanding Student at Hendrix College; Kiwanian of the Year, Conway; Distinguished Service Award, Conway Chamber of Commerce; Distinguished Service Award, Conway Public Schools; James E. Major Service Award, Hendrix College; Faulkner County Leadership Institute Award; Kiwanis International Tablet of Honor; and the Hendrix College Sports Hall of Honor.
Mr. Meriwether was a member of First United Methodist Church in Conway.

He is survived by his wife of over 57 years, the former Sylvia Kuraner of San Antonio, and by three sons and a daughter: Will Meriwether (Joy), of Conway, and his daughters, Ariana and Rosalie; David Meriwether (Tine) , of Hood River, OR, and his children, Drew and Emily; Nick Meriwether (Janet), of Portsmouth, OH, and his children, William, Katherine, and Jacqueline; and Sarah Kate Meriwether Coker (Keith), of Conway, and her sons, Sam and Joe. He is also survived by a sister, Rosemary Meriwether Rapley (Gene), of Fort Smith.

Visitation will be held at the Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Conway on Thursday at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Robert W. Meriwether Scholarship Fund at Hendrix College or to the First United Methodist Church of Conway.

Contributed on 2/8/23 by hawkinsdonna48
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