Edgar Mobley

Edgar Newman Mobley, 96, of Little Rock, passed away peacefully of natural causes on September 19, 2020.  He was a beloved resident of the Health Center at Parkway Village Little Rock.

Edgar was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana where he attended Arsenal Technical High School.  During his senior year in 1942, he left and enlisted in the Army to serve his country during WWII.  After combat training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, his Anti-aircraft Battalion was shipped to North Africa, Sicily and then to invade Italy at Anzio where he was responsible for transporting and setting up the 90MM Anti-aircraft artillery. After the Italian Campaign, his unit was shipped to invade southern France where they joined up with Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army liberating Europe, including the prisoners in the concentration camp at Dachau. (He finally got his GED at age 65.)

His career with Western Union in Indianapolis eventually led him to work in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon in communications in the case of war.  He was transferred to Colorado Springs where he worked for NORAD in the security mountain. At the end of his career in communications in the case of war, he and his wife moved to Little Rock where he worked as a Pulaski County Deputy Sheriff for a number of years.

His love for woodworking and painting were evident in his retirement.  Because of his generous heart, he gave away many of his wood creations and handed out paintings of birds, flowers and churches to anyone who crossed his path. Edgar was full of mischief through and through.  He was full of jokes (sometimes at inappropriate times) that kept people in stitches.  He could be grumpy and crass.  His gruff demeanor disguised a bruised and tender heart and his playful teasing made its way into the hearts of all who knew him.

Edgar was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Jane Mobley, his father, Edgar W. Mobley, his mother, Annabelle Atkinson Mobley, five sisters and his beloved son-in-law, Norman E. Hoggard.

He is survived by three daughters, Karen (Thomas) Purifoy, Sr. of Little Rock, Judy (Russ) Cockrum of Martinsville, Indiana and Barbara (Bob) Stanley of Indianapolis; seven grandchildren, Lisa Kaufman of Newport, AR, Angie Gray of Maumelle, Lee Ann (Jeff) Small of Little Rock, Jim (Andrea) Cockrum of Greenwood, IN, Ken (Jenn) Cockrum of Naples, FL, Joe (Emily) Stanley of Overland Park, KS and Tim (Rachel) Stanley of Bainbridge Island, WA; and 21 very loved great-grandchildren.  Edgar also left a host of friends including Pastor James Thomason, Brianna Hull, Rita McDonald and Ann McCraw who lovingly cared for him.

A private burial service was held at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.  A “Zoom” memorial service will be held in Ed’s honor at a later date for all the family, and will be led by his son-in-law, Pastor Russ Cockrum. Honorary pallbearers are Thomas Purifoy, Sr., Robert Stanley, Joe Stanley, Tim Stanley, Jim Cockrum and Ken Cockrum.

A special thanks to the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Parkway Village and the Baptist Hospice nurses who looked after Edgar for his last few years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Parkway Place Baptist Church, 300 Parkway Place Dr., Little Rock, AR 72211 or Baptist Health Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Rd., #2000, Little Rock, AR 72210.

Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200.  Edgar’s online guestbook may be signed at www.smithfamilycares.com.