William Stuart Holcomb
Apr 13, 1954 - Jan 10th, 2022- Birth Date: Apr 13, 1954
- Death Date: Jan 10, 2022
- Funeral Date: Jan 14, 2022, 11:00 am
- Location: Ruebel Funeral Home
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Biography: William Evan Stuart Holcomb, 67, a beloved father, builder, artist, and ham radio operator, passed away on Monday, January 10, 2022.
Born on April 13, 1954, he was raised in Little Rock and was the oldest of five children. He is predeceased by his parents, Norman and Carroll Byerly Holcomb.
A graduate of Hall High School and Hendrix College, he followed in his father's footsteps pursuing a career in real estate. Notably, he was active in the Heights neighborhood redevelopment, where he grew up.
In midlife, he pursued two new passions: painting and operating radios. His artwork was often featured at the former Local Colour Art Gallery, and he was an active member of C.A.R.E.N., one of the oldest amateur radio clubs in Arkansas. Both of these avocations brought him great satisfaction and many cherished friendships.
Throughout life, Stuart was an avid gardener, cook, and tinkerer. Like his mother, he never missed an opportunity to celebrate a birthday or holiday, and he enjoyed hosting these celebrations, including an annual Christmas Eve Eve fete.
Of all his life's accomplishments, he was most proud of his three children: Edward, Foster, and Katie. The family enjoyed annual beach trips to Florida and deep-sea fishing adventures. At home, they loved boating on Greers Ferry or simply gathering at home with their beloved dogs and cats.
Stuart is also survived by four siblings: Emily McRae (Jeff), Elizabeth Watts (Larry), Douglas Holcomb (Lisa) of Little Rock, and Anne Waters (Andrew) of Spartanburg, SC; one uncle: Steve Holcomb (Sharrell) of Little Rock; seven cousins; six nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
A favorite adage of Stuart's was, "To whom much is given, much is expected."
A private graveside service will be held Friday, January 14 at Mt. Holly, followed by a celebration of his life at 11:00 a.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, PO Box 3127, Little Rock, AR 72203; or to another charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com
riding around in his small sports car without a steering wheel. He guided it with a pair of vice grips clamped to the steering column; riding the river like pirates in Norman’s old boat; and hanging out in his room above the garage which was pretty much like going to a small night club. Kris Baber also reminded me that he used to sign his checks “Stuart Howcome” back then. What a character. I will sure miss him. Best wishes to the whole Holcomb clan.
I left Little Rock in ‘78, but it was always nice to cross paths with him in the handful of times I’ve returned since then. Last time was three years ago, when John Miller and I dropped in on him, and he was in the middle of his “Tuesday night check-in” on the radio. Which has had me thinking this week, and I don’t at all mean this irreverently: who better to be holed up with in the aftermath of the Zombie Apocalypse than Stuart? He would be that guy— the one who hotwired the trucks and boats and bulldozers, the one who’d rig up the HVAC in the tunnel, and the drones and cameras for security, man the ham radio in our efforts to reach others; but also to wax philosophical in the night, be a moral compass, a visionary for the new, New World… what a guy. All the best to his family.