Thomas "Tommy" Bledsoe

Thomas R. Bledsoe (Tommy) - Simply Daddy to his girls, Papa to his grandchildren, a friend/mentor/neighbor to countless others – was called home by the Lord, Sunday November 28, 2021.  He was born August 22, 1927, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to the late Thomas Watson and Janie Smothers Bledsoe.

He thoroughly enjoyed growing up on his parent’s farm in Arkadelphia and would often tell stories about his childhood. His work there delivering milk led him to meeting the love of his life, Virginia Dee Ryan. Tommy served in the US Army during World War II as part of the reconstruction of Japan. He spent 40 years in the automotive parts business and half of that time as the co-owner of the Auto Parts Company of Pine Bluff that he and Virginia owned and operated with his sister in law and her husband, Ivon Huggs and Norman Huggs.

Tommy and Virginia had an amazing 64-year journey together. They collected countless souvenirs and pictures from their travels abroad and road trips across the country. He could ride a motorcycle, slalom ski behind a boat, hand craft furniture for the ages, and carve the breath of life into remarkable wooden birds. He found the passion for golf at a later time in his life and spent many hours mastering his game and returning to his boyhood nature. He suffered great loss with the death of Virginia in 2010. After her death he moved from Pine Bluff to Hot Springs Village where he met and married Imogene Nelson Oaks in 2012. He once again suffered the loss of a spouse upon her passing in 2017.

Tommy loved his Lord and Savior and took great pride in serving his church family. He was an active member at South Side Baptist and First Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, Arkansas for many years where his family would grow, and life events would transpire. His later journeys would welcome him to a new church home at Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. 

He is also preceded in death by his brothers, Clyde and Lawrence Bledsoe, and sisters, Geneva Golden, Eunice Melton and Mary Jane Jones.

He leaves behind a legacy of love to his daughters: Beverly (Terry) Paff of North Little Rock, AR, Gail (Richard) Schultz of Hot Springs Village, AR/Port Charlotte, FL, and Karen (Mark) Ragar of Flower Mound, TX; his pride and joy grandchildren: Jennifer (Michael) Blanscet, Jeff (Sally) Cordell, Brad Cordell, Ryan Ragar, Adam Ragar; five great-granddaughters Caroline, Julia and Lauren Blanscet and Paige and Ryan Cordell; two great-grandsons: Brodie Cordell and Cooper Ragar; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Tommy will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 2:00pm and will include visitation an hour before the service at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay St, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. Burial after service will be at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Arkadelphia.

Memorials may be made to a charity or organization of your choice.