Biography:

Alan R. Thalheimer, 101, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

Alan was born in Little Rock on August 18, 1925, to the late Abe and Camille Thalheimer. He grew up in a close-knit household with his parents, his Uncle Hugo, and his younger brother, Bruce, who preceded him in death.

Alan graduated from Little Rock Central High School and attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he met his future bride, Gladys “Gege” Gittleman. Alan and Gege married and returned to Little Rock, where they built a life together and raised their family.

After college Alan joined his family’s department store, The Gus Blass Company, where he found his love for the retail business. After The Gus Blass Company he was well known in Little Rock as the owner of Irma Dumas, a successful women’s clothing chain, before later joining his entrepreneurial son, Richard (Founder of The Sharper Image), in business in 1977.

Alan and Gege eventually turned their shared love of beautiful things and travel into a jewelry business. Together, they traveled the world in search of novel gemstones and inspiration for their designs. Alan was particularly proud of bringing blue topaz to the American market, while Gege brought her creativity and talent to the business as its jewelry designer.

Gege passed away in 2014. A few years later Alan met Elizabeth “Betsy” Gray, and the two formed a special bond built around their shared love of gardening, travel, and thoroughbred horse racing at Oaklawn Park. They married in May 2016 and enjoyed ten wonderful years together. Alan considered himself extraordinarily fortunate to have fallen in love twice in his life with two remarkable women.
Alan was known for his many passions and his zest for life. He had a legendary green thumb and loved nothing more than tending his garden and sharing its bounty with others. Each spring, he delighted in delivering homegrown daffodils to friends. He was an avid reader, a gifted storyteller, extremely charitable, and always positive in his outlook on life. Alan had a lifelong love of thoroughbred horse racing and owned numerous racehorses over 60 years. Few things brought him more excitement than being at Oaklawn Park, cheering on his horse and shouting, “Call it off!” as the horses rounded the final turn with his horse in the lead.

Alan was an active member of Congregation B’nai Israel and a longtime supporter of the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. His entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, optimism, and love of life left an enduring impression on everyone who knew him.

Alan is survived by his children, Joan Nafe (Larry) and Richard Thalheimer (Christina); his stepchildren Martha Tull (John) and Michael Gray (Mary); his nephews, Bruce Thalheimer (Barbara) and Lee Thalheimer (Libby); his grandchildren, Laura Nafe, Eve Thalheimer, Lily Thalheimer (Rob), and Alana Thalheimer; and his great-granddaughter, Clemence Junge. The family would like to thank his loving caregivers Jessica Lowery, Adele Vilanes, Audrey Curtner, and Chris Braithwaite.

A service will be held at Congregation B’nai Israel on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 3 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com