Obituaries

Robert W. Chowning

Photo of Robert W. Chowning
Robert W. Chowning, a long-time resident of Magnolia, who had recently moved to Little Rock to be closer to family, died on Thursday, December 19th. He devoted more than 50 years to the newspaper profession. He was greatly admired and loved by his family for his kind and generous heart, his outstanding example, his ever-positive outlook, and encouragement and smile to everyone he met. He was born November 22, 1920, in Wynne, Ark. He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie Chowning. He was very active in business and community affairs. He had retired in 1991 from his latest position of General Manager/Executive Editor of the Magnolia Banner-News, having served 33 years. He was a past president of the Arkansas Press Association. He also served as editor of the Wynne Progress before attending Arkansas Tech, where he became editor of the college paper and head of the news bureau. He served as advertising manager of the Wynne Progress and the Forrest City Times-Herald. He was also publisher and co-owner of the West Memphis Daily Morning Sun. He attended Wynne High School, Arkansas Tech, Institute of Columbia University, and Rochester Institute of Technology. He was chosen Outstanding Athlete and Outstanding Student of his graduating class at Wynne High School and was a member of the basketball and track team at Arkansas Tech. He was an Army Air Force bomber pilot in World War II. In the 1950s, he and his wife were producer and director of the Miss America Pageants in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He was co-founder of the Wynne Chamber of Commerce and Wynne Lions Club, president of the Magnolia Rotary Club, vice-president of the Columbia County Fair Association, president of the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce Industrial Club, president of Abilities Unlimited, vice-president of the Columbia County United Fund, director of the Arkansas State Council of Economic Education and Columbia County Youth Opportunity Council. He was named Magnolia Citizen of the Year. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Magnolia. For four years he wrote a popular "Casual Chat" human-interest column that was featured on the front page of the Banner-News with the picture that is in this review of his multi-faceted life. He was the author of two books: "History of St. Francis (Ark.) County" and "History of Cross (Ark.) County". He is preceded in death by his wife, Katie Chowning, and his son, Douglas Robert Chowning, both of Magnolia. He is survived by his daughter, Diane Chowning Delone of Little Rock; two sisters, Margaret Ellis and Mary Frances Pitts of Wynne; granddaughter, Mary Carol Pederson and husband Jason of Little Rock; grandson, Christopher Spencer and wife Christa of Fayetteville; granddaughter, Elizabeth Gorbet and husband Mark of Sherwood; and four great-grandchildren, Spencer Pederson, Shelby Pederson, Chloe Gorbet, and Madison Gorbet. Graveside services will be this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Magnolia. The Reverend Larry Kelso of First United Methodist Church in Magnolia will be officiating under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. of Magnolia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 320 W. Main, Magnolia, Ark. 71753 or Columbia County Regional Library, Box 668, Magnolia.

Published December 21, 2013

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