Kenneth Saunders Sulcer

Mr. Kenneth Saunders Sulcer, former state representative and candidate for governor, was born Nov. 1, 1925, in Palestine (St. Francis County) Arkansas. He moved to Mississippi County as a teenager where he lived until moving to Jonesboro in 1995.

His parents were Mack Farlin Sulcer and Nannie Thomas Sulcer.

He was preceded in death by one son, Dr. Kenneth S. Sulcer Jr.; his parents; three sisters and seven brothers.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of more than 53 years, Doris Holloway Sulcer of the home;

Four daughters, Marie Sulcer of Booneville, Ark., Kathryn (and Charles) O'Brien of Greenwood, Ark. Cynthia (and John) Hill of Jonesboro, Kenda (and Mark) Hackney of Jonesboro;

One son, Kevin Sulcer of Fort Smith;

Three grandchildren, Matthew (and Melissa) Hill, Madison Hill and Brent Hackney and;

One great grandchild, Deacon Hill all of Jonesboro;

A sister, Joanne Baker of North Little Rock; and

Two brothers, Warren Sulcer of Marked Tree and Curtis Sulcer of Osceola.

He has been self-employed all his life and owned Sulcer Real Estate Rentals in Jonesboro and Osceola and Planters Furniture Company in Osceola.

Kenneth served 14 years as State Representative from Mississippi County. While in the Legislature, he sponsored the bill to establish the Arkansas Children's Colonies, which are now Human Development Centers. He also sponsored a bill to create the Soil Testing Stations in Arkansas.

He was named outstanding Arkansan in 1957 and elected Speaker Pro-Tem of the Arkansas House in 1961. He formerly served as Arkansas Representative on the Southern Regional Board of Education and was a candidate for governor in 1966. A special edition of The Osceola Times was printed in his honor in 1966 and "Kenneth Sulcer Day" proclaimed by the Mayor of Osceola.

He was a founding board member of the Sheltered Workshop in Blytheville, served on the South Mississippi County United Way Board and was a former Rotarian. He was a former resident of Joiner, where he served as Alderman and City Treasurer.

He was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Osceola where he taught Sunday School for more than 25 years. Most recently, he was a member of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro and served as the teacher for the Wisdom Seekers Sunday School Class.

He served on the Board of Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge for more than 28 years and was chairman of the Board for several years. In 1992, he was named Arkansas Distinguished Baptist Layman and in 1997 was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Williams Baptist College. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2000.

Kenneth always had a smile and loved telling jokes to see others smile. One of his greatest joys was watching his grandchildren play ball.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Central Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held at Central Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Pastor David Sulcer of Crosswind Church in Westminster, Md., and Senior Pastor Archie Mason of Central Baptist Church will conduct the service. Burial will be private in Jonesboro Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Wisdom Seekers Sunday School Class. Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home of Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.

For lasting memorials, please consider Williams Baptist College Scholarship Fund (P. O. Box 3736, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476), Central Baptist Church (3707 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro, AR 72404) or Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House (1148 E. Matthews, Jonesboro, AR 72401). An online guest book is available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com