Donald E. Bratton

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Aug 26th, 2013

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Death Date: Aug 26, 2013

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Biography: Donald E. Bratton, age 78, of Little Rock, passed away August 26, 2013. He was born on March 1, 1935 to the late Thomas G. and Dale McElroy Bratton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Crossley Bratton and his brother, John T. Bratton. After graduating from Hendrix College, he began his teaching career in Little Rock, spending the majority of his career teaching at Parkview and Hall High Schools. He was a member at First Methodist Church in Little Rock. Donald enjoyed traveling, especially taking students on school trips. He is survived by his sons, Joseph M. Bratton (Anna), John G. Bratton (Alison) and daughter, Donna Baldwin (Jeff) all of Little Rock; 7 grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and fellow teachers. The family would like to thank the staff of Chenal Rehab & Healthcare for the loving and professional care they provided. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013 in the chapel at Ruebel Funeral Home. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to Parkview and Hall High School Libraries. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Condolences(23)

deborah adkins

#23

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

my prayers goes to the bratton family at this time

Danny Coffman

#22

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

What a great person and great teacher... Had a lot of fun in his classes and he inspired me very much.. Prayers to all his family and friends...

Andrew Webre

#21

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I had Mr Bratton as a private tutor one summer in the mid 80's. Far and away the most I ever learned! I know he will be missed by many.

Kelly Broadaway Yoakam

#20

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I had Mr. Bratton for Latin class at Parkview High (class of '75). He was one of the most memorable teachers I ever had--and one of my favorite! He engaged us as a teacher and respected us as students. His sense of humor still makes me smile! (Just one quirky incident was when Jimmy became the toilet paper fairy and loosely wrapped Mr. Bratton up like a mummy, while he sat there in his chair with that wry smile :o). He understood the importance of laughing in learning. He was able to humorously redirect teenagers like no other teacher I knew.
He is one of those teachers whose influence deepens as we mature. I am grateful to have known him.
Blessings to the family

Peggy Young Seamon

#19

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I was fortunate to have Mr. Bratton as a teacher at Henderson Jr. High. He was a wonderful person and a great teacher. Amazingly enough, I saw him in 2009 when I was visiting my mother at Chenal Rehab during her 90-day stay there. I remembered him immediately. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be greatly missed.

Rebecca Jones Kauffman

#18

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Very sorry for your loss. I had Mr. Bratton for American History in eighth grade and for Latin in ninth grade at Henderson. His appreciation for and encouragement of lively debate and discussion was stimulating and inspiring. He was refreshingly fearless in leading discussions on any topic.The atmosphere in his class was liberating, particularly in a junior high school in the turbulent late sixties. It helped give me the courage to wear a black armband to protest the war on Moratorium Day! I can see him sitting on his desk talking about the gifts Adlai Stevenson gave our country. What a wonderful, lively, humorous teacher he was!

Lindy Vint

#17

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Rest in Peace Mr. Bratton. Your influence on me has endured for over 20 years now.

Pamela Boyd Ball

#16

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

To the Bratton Family,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I met your Dad my 1st year at Parkview.For the three years I was there not only was he a wonderful teacher, but, a great mentor and advisor. He truly will be missed.

Mark Rushing

#15

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I was sorry to hear about the passing of your father. However, it brought back some very special memories.
I had your father for a Latin teacher at Henderson a few years ago. I had him again later at Parkview. Record keeping was such in those days that I had to take Latin II during high school (although I signed up for Latin I). I bounced around colleges and ended up at the U of A in Fayetteville as a senior. I never had a language requirement for graduation until then. In my senior year I took two semesters of Latin. Given that I didn?t take something as practical as Spanish or French you have probably guessed that I took Latin I and II (instead of III & IV?hey those are Latin numbers ;-) ). I guess you could say that your father had a part in getting me through, not only junior high and high school, but college as well.
Most teachers from my childhood, both good and/or bad, are a blur, but your dad stands out in my memories. He was the best.

Nikki Davis

#14

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

My prayer goes out to the Bratton family, I would like to express my condolence at this time to your family. The Bible is a great source of encouragement at times like this, a comforting thought is at Revelation 21:4 "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away"

Steve Gunter

#13

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

My heartfelt condolences to the Bratton family....and that includes all of us who were lucky enough to have Mr. Bratton as a teacher/mentor. Personally I waited too long to fully express to him what his care, insight guidance, and belief in me meant to me and to my life.

But I will take this sad opportunity to reinforce to his family and other loved ones what you already no doubt know... Donald Bratton was special....he had his priorities right. Though we all learned mountains from him, we could have learned more by what he made important in his life.

Personally, I credit him him with much.... he took an unwarranted interest in me, made me buckle down, and would not let me give him less than he knew I had to give. He did not take the easy way with his students...and he did it all with a great sense of humor and a sense of irony.

Rest in Eternal Peace Mr. Bratton. You leave behind thousands of fans, suporters and loved ones through all the lives you touched.

Karen (Cavaness) Kline

#12

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I send my deepest sympathies to the Bratton family. Mr. Bratton was my Latin teacher for two years at Parkview High (class of '84), and he was, by far, the most lovable teacher I ever had. He treated his students as equals and always spoke to us like peers even though we all knew what a superior intellectual he was! His was the most refreshing and unconventional classroom I've had the pleasure of being a part of in all my years since. I am a teacher-librarian myself now approaching twenty years of service, and I am still in awe of Mr. Bratton.

Renee Suskie Kovach

#11

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Donna, John, and Mark, So sorry to hear of your loss. Your dad was a wonderful father, husband, friend and teacher. I have many fond memories in the Bratton household and running in the Treasure Hills neighborhood. I know you guys will truly miss your dad and I know that he is with your mom in heaven. I will continue to pray for your entire family during this difficult time. The entire Suskie family is praying for you all. If there is anything we can do for any of you let us know. Love you guys.

Ike and Angie Allred

#10

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

We are so sorry for your loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you guys.

elizabeth lucker

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

What a great guy! What a memorable teacher, one who always went above and beyond what was expected. What a character with a unique sense of humor and such a great thinker. We first met in 1977 when we were colleagues at Parkview and my thoughts and prayers are extended to the family. I know you have grand memories to live with!! Liz Lucker

Brantly Buck

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I am sorry to hear about your loss. I am a longtime friend of the Bratton family in Forrest City. I grew up in the Methodist Church there. Donald's father taught me Trigonometry and Physics and his mother was my Latin teacher. They were both brilliant but also had the gift of teaching and getting through to their students, so I'm not surprised to hear Donald was a good teacher. The Brattons and others exemplified the great teachers in small town Arkansas public schools in my youth.

Robin Hooks Cook

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Mr. Bratton opened my world to travel in 1977. I had never been anywhere and went on his trip to New York. It was great. He was a caring and devoted teacher in and out of the classroom. I am grateful I had the experience to have him as a teacher and tour guide ( 3 times). Loved his sense of humor. I am sorry for you loss.
Robin Cook

Stacey Mahurin

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

My condolences to the Bratton family. I am a past student of Mr. Bratton during his tenure at Parkview High School. He was a dedicated teacher and kind individual. I remember him fondly.
Stacey Mahurin - Parkview class of 1974

Julia Peters

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Donna, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Luanne Bradford

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Donna,I am sorry to hear about your Dad. I know you will all miss him. I hope the knowledge he is free of the health problems that weighed him down over the past years,that he is free of all those challenges and limitations, and celebrating with your mom, will bring you some comfort and peace. My prayers are with you, and the entire family, at this time. Luanne Bradford

Pam Wardlaw Cathey

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

I was lucky to have Mr. Bratton as my eighth grade history teacher and then again as my eleventh grade history teacher. He made history fun to learn. He truly was my favorite teacher. Rest in peace, Sir, you were a great inspiration to this student.

Parick Patton

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

So sorry to hear of your loss. We are thinking and praying for your family in this time of loss. Love you guys.

Patton Family

Sheila Colclasure

Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am

Mr. Bratton (Pop) was a wonderful and caring man. I couldn't have asked for a better father-in-law or better grand-father for my children. Pop has gone to be with the love of his life, his wife (Nana), whom he truly loved and adored. Love you very much.

Donald E. Bratton

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