Biography: Dr. Robert E. L. Bearden, Jr., of Little Rock, retired Methodist Minister died Tuesday August 15 2006. He was born in Conway to the Reverend and Mrs. R.E.L. Bearden, Sr. and his father served pastorates in Arkansas Methodism for 42 years. Dr. Bearden had served 24 of his 49 active years in two Little Rock churches, having been Senior Pastor of First United Methodist for 14 years and following retirement Associate at St James United Methodist for 10 years. His ministry at First Methodist was highlighted by the founding of an integrated Children’s Day Care Center for inner city families, which has culminated in the present Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center. Also he founded the CONTACT Telephone Ministry which served persons in crisis for about 15 years. During his pastorate, the church constructed a Headquarters Building for Arkansas Methodism as well as a Youth Activities Center. At the close of his service to St. James Methodist, he was named Pastor Emeritus, and the church honored him and his wife by funding the Robert E. L. and Ellen Bearden Scholarship at Hendrix College. Other pastorates were Central United Methodist at Fayetteville, serving the University community there, during which time he led Religious Emphasis Weeks in seven colleges and universities in Louisiana and Arkansas; Goddard Memorial at Fort Smith; and earlier Wynne, Walnut Ridge, Trumann and Luxora. He was graduated from Henderson State University in 1935. The college named him Distinguished Alumnus in 1987, and friends funded a scholarship in the names of him and his wife. He received his B.D. degree from the Divinity School of Duke University, where he was elected to the national honorary theological fraternity, Theta Phi. Dr. Bearden had also been interested in Hendrix College, being a Life Member of its Board of Trustees. He was cited in 1995 for 40 years of service to this board. Hendrix conferred upon him in 1955 the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree. He and Mrs. Bearden had taken an interest in the capital development of the college, and contributed an office in the Fausett Administration Building. As a member of the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council for a decade, Dr. Bearden traveled annually to meetings of the Council, six of which were in Europe also filling preaching engagements in England and Jamaica. He served the governing bodies of Methodism, having been elected delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences for five quadrennia. He was active in ecumenical affairs, participating in the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and also the World Council. Dr. Bearden had quite diverse interests. The Bearden History Room at First Methodist Church bears witness to his interest in history. It is also revealed by his service on the Arkansas State History Commission from 1962 until 1966. He served on the Executive Committee of the National Commission on Archives and History of the Methodist Church. He was a Permanent Member of the Arkansas Historical Association; first president of the Little Rock Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society; once president of the Board of the Museum of Science and History in Little Rock, as well as a past member of the Quapaw Quarter Board. Other memberships include Arkansas Native Plant Society, Civil War Roundtable, Audubon Society, Ozark Society and Arkansas Pioneers. On October 3, 2004, the Washington County Historical Society honored Dr. Bearden with the Distinguished Citizen Award. He was one of the eight original incorporators for the Historical Society in Fayetteville. In 1938 he married Ellen Nelson of Russellville, who died in 2005. The couple had two children, Mrs. Kirkland D. Connally (Clare) of Dallas and the late Robert Nelson Bearden who died in 1980. He had one granddaughter, Kimberly Dee Connally Munoz. Other family members are son-in-law Kirk Connally, Antonio Munoz and great-grandchildren, Juan Diego Munoz and Xoxi Isabel Munoz. He had many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family gratefully acknowledges the Christian love and support of so many, among them caregivers, Florence Pierce and her loving family of caregivers. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at St. James United Methodist Church, officiated by the Reverend Ed Matthews. Memorials may be made to the Bearden Scholarship Funds at Hendrix College, Henderson University, St. James United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Church, Little Rock. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com