Biography: Robert Joseph Wimberley (known to his friends as Bob) died December 22, 2007 in Little Rock, AR. Bob was born in Jonesboro, AR to Zachary and Agnes Wimberley on September 27, 1924. At the age of twelve, he began working for the Jonesboro daily newspaper which gave him a lifelong love of the printed word and journalism. Bob laughingly recalled that he was fired and rehired in rapid succession more times than he could count. Later while at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Bob worked as a sports editor for the Northwest Arkansas Times, owned by the then Senator J. William Fulbright and his mother, Roberta Fulbright. National attention was paid to one of Bob’s stories when he wrote of the University’s flabby football team. In revenge the football players, seized and tarred and feathered him. World War II intervened in Bob’s scholastic career. He studied at Monticello A & M to become a commissioned Lt. J.G. Duty in the Pacific found him aboard a LST that weathered a typhoon of great magnitude, however this did not diminish his love for the sea or the US Navy. Returning to Fayetteville after WWII he developed a friendship with Hamilton Moses, Jr. who introduced him to Hamilton Moses Sr. who was President of Arkansas Power and Light. That introduction led to Bob being hired as Assistant Advertising Manager of one the States largest enterprises. The University was the place for the meeting of his future wife, Wanda Gibson Ingram, a history major. She did not run Bob down in the rain as he stoutly maintained, but met him in Dr. Dorsey Jones history class. After engaging in a failed congressional campaign Bob settled into AP&L as assistant to Edgar Chesnutt, becoming the Advertising Manager when Chesnutt retired. Those years at AP&L gave Bob opportunities for community service and church involvement. His participation ranged from emceeing Miss Little Rock pageants to serving on church committees, holding offices in the Junior Chamber of Commerce and State Chamber, heading the Better Business Bureau, chairing the Multiple Sclerosis Association and being embroiled in the integration issue at Winfields United Methodist Church. Bob as Chairman of the Board and Joel Cooper as Pastor supported the Superintendent of Little Rock Public Schools Virgil Blossom’s and his stance on integration. Later in the 1980’s Bob would be Chairman at another difficult time at Winfield United Methodist Church, when the church moved to West Little Rock, a delicate balance had to be maintained with the members that left and those that stayed at 16th and Louisiana. Bob would leave AP&L to head the S.M. Brooks Advertising Agency. There he met and influenced many of Arkansas Leaders: Dale Cowling, Brenda Scissor, Mark Moody, Joe Swaty and others that called him their mentor. Bob always shared his expertise with young people. After S.M. Brooks, Bob Wimberley Public Relations, came on the scene. Spearheading political campaigns, heading the Independent Automobile Association, and becoming director of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses were all examples of Bob’s leadership. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mrs. Wanda G. Wimberley; daughters, Candice Wimberley, Laurie Hill and grandchildren Wesley and Rachel Hill all of Little Rock; nephews, Dr. John Beasley of Lawrenceburg, TN, nephew Robert Beasley, of Florence, Alabama, niece, Phyllis Green of Chapel Hill, NC. The family would like to give special thanks to Bob’s caregiver, Vanessa Lewis. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on Wednesday at Winfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Jan Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be the Members of Winfield's Friendship Class. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Winfield United Methodist Church. Bob will be remembered for his love of people, his gregariousness, and his never meeting a stranger, his character truly was bigger than life. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com