Robert LeMaster

Robert William LeMaster, 91, of Little Rock, passed away July 29, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. Born July 23, 1921 in Pine Bluff to Jefferson C. and Ada Wilbourn LeMaster, he was raised during the Depression, and the family lived in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. His mother died when he was nine years old. He graduated from Ruston High School in Louisiana and joined the U.S. Navy in February, 1941. He graduated from the hospital corps in Portsmouth, Virginia and served in a naval hospital in Vero Beach, Florida. He spent more than two years in the South Pacific as a medical corpsman aboard the U.S.S. Chaffee DE 230, returning to the States in 1945 where he worked as head of the x-ray department at the Naval Oak Knoll Hospital in Oakland, California until his discharge in 1947. He joined Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, serving as purchasing agent and later, as assistant administrator. He was responsible for furnishing and equipping the new Baptist Medical Center which consisted of 2,104 identifiable areas to be covered. He later joined Arkansas Children's Hospital, from which he retired in 1988.
He subsequently assisted his wife, Carolyn Gray, in collecting data for a book on Arkansas Jewry and helped process the large amount of data she acquired.
A member of the Bible Church of Little Rock for 47 years, he and his wife joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the Ferndale community in 2000. As a member of the community he headed the Ferndale Crime Watch Program for more than 10 years; the program has been commended for helping lower crime in the area.
Preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Robin Rod, he is survived by his wife, Carolyn Gray LeMaster; daughter, Rebecca LeMaster of Wroclaw, Poland; sons, Gray (Nancy) of Little Rock and Glen (Margie) of Moraga, California; eight grandchildren, Jeff (Beka) and Jacob (Leighann), both of Little Rock, Will (Kathryn) of North Little Rock, Seth (serving in Afghanistan) and wife, Sarah of Maumelle, Alisa Rod of Santa Barbara, California, Michele Rod of Santa Clara, California, Samantha LeMaster of San Diego, California, Nathan LeMaster of Fayetteville; great-granddaughters, Cosette and Cora of Little Rock; and sister, Margaret (Gene) Casto of Tenaha, Texas. Robert was a kind, considerate person with a delightful sense of humor.
The LeMaster family expresses its deep gratitude for the professional and loving concern of Dr. Diane Wilder and her staff and to the Baptist Health staff. The ongoing help of the West Pulaski County Fire Department has been exceptional and deeply appreciated.
Visitation will be Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Services will be held Wednesday, August 1 at 10:00 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, corner of Kanis Road and Ferndale Cutoff, officiated by Pastor Chris Kinzler and eulogy by Gray LeMaster. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, the West Pulaski County Volunteer Fire Department or to a favorite charity.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Mr. LeMaster's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.