John Cuming Pagan

JOHN CUMMING PAGAN left this world to join his heavenly family on May 12, 2018. Born to Helen and Stefan Soszynski in February of 1945, in St. Andrews, Scotland. In 1948, Helen divorced Stefan to marry her childhood sweetheart John (Jack) S. Pagan, and they left Scotland to resettle in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Jack was a commercial artist and also an instructor in the museum school BFA program, thus introducing John to the Arkansas Arts Center. In 1965, John served in a volunteer role and assisted in the Children's Theatre, working events such as the movies, Junior League functions and Fine Arts Club events. John attended Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., where he then graduated and furthered his education at LRU College. In 1971, John was hired as a full-time employee of the Art's Center where he would also drive the art mobile to various locations and work on the lighting in the theatre. In 1978. John moved into the role of Building Facilities Manager and in August 1998, he received The Winthrop Rockefeller Memorial Award for extraordinary commitment to the Ark. Art's Center. John loved all the different roles he did for the Art Center and retired due to health reasons in 2017. John is survived by his wife of 37 years, Heather Rhodes-Pagan; sister in-law, Dr. Libby Rhodes of Rogers; cousins, John and Chris Cumming Ashstead, Surrey UK, Dorothy Cumming, Dundee Scotland, Graham and Sandra Cumming, Hampshire UK, Angela C. Crawshaw, Birmingham UK, Robert (Bob) and Alice Pagan, Gray La., Shelia and Jimmy Horn, Pine Bluff, Ark., and a host of many nieces, nephews and friends. We would like to thank the staff at Lakewood Nursing and Rehabilitation, especially the nurses, Taylor, Susan, and Willie Sue and the CNA's Fred and Cornelius, the staff of Kindred Hospice and special thanks to John Rhodes. Funeral Services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 11:00am followed by a private family interment at Rhodes Cemetery in Sheridan, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Arkansas Art's Center. P.O. Box 2137, Little Rock, Ark., 72203 or Christ Episcopal Church. 509 Scott Street, Little Rock, Ark., 72201. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.