Obituaries

Lethel Frank Slatton

Photo of Lethel Frank Slatton
Lethel Frank Slatton, 86, of Hot Springs died December 31, 2012. He was born in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on November 7, 1926 to Benjamin Frank and Lesta Lala Slatton. Frank was an educator who spent 35 years in Arkansas schools. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Hot Springs and a member of Doug and Patsy Ervin's Sunday School Class. Upon graduating from Delight High School, Frank enlisted in the United States Army where he served at the end of World War II with his friend and future brother-in-law Raymond Shepherd in the Philippine Islands. They were there when the islands got their liberation. Frank then attended Henderson State Teachers College with good friend and future brother-in-law James Jones where he graduated in 1951. He then began his career as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent and with the State Department of Education. Some of the schools he served at were in Hempstead, Union, and Saline County where he retired as principal of Ringgold Elementary School after 14 years. Other than his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his daughter, Stacy Ellison; two brothers, Foster and Grice Slatton and two sisters, Juanita Gorum and Clyda Jackson. Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Kathryn (Kitty) Slatton; a son, Bradley Frank Slatton and his wife Donna of Briscoe, Texas, and a son-in-law, Jerry Ellison of Abilene, Texas. Survivors also include a granddaughter, Hannah Kathryn Ellison; grandson, Eric Slatton (Heather); granddaughter, Cassie Tester (Jamie); granddaughter, Kristian Tester (Troy), Lauren and Drew Ellison; great-grandchildren, James Tester and Aspen Slatton. Other survivors are a brother, Lyman Slatton (Joy Rhea) of Delight, Arkansas; a sister, Joy Mae Brock of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church Hot Springs with Pastor John McCallum officiating. Burial will follow at Hart's Chapel Cemetery south of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Pallbearers include Guy Collins, George Collins, Mike Harbor, Morton Wheatley, Jerry Johnson, Ed Buford, and Harold Humphrey. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Doug and Patsy Ervin Sunday School Class and members of the Senior Golf Group at Essex Golf Course. The family wishes to thank Dr. William Wright and the doctors, nurses, and friends at the Hot Springs Kidney Dialysis Center. Memorial donations may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church of Hot Springs. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.

Published January 3, 2013

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