Bennie Bledsoe

Long-time Arkadelphia resident, Dr. Bennie Gene Bledsoe died Tuesday, October 25, in Houston, Texas. Born in Donaldson, Arkansas, on January 9, 1917, she was the daughter of Ben Bledsoe and Cora Berry Bledsoe. She graduated from Arkadelphia High School and received both a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from Henderson. In 1973 she earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree from North Texas State University.
During Dr. Bledsoe's career in education, she taught at Washington High School, at Arkadelphia High School, and at Henderson State University. She is the author of a two-volume history, Henderson State University: Education Since 1890 and a book of poetry, Now Will I Sing. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.
She is mourned by her niece, Barbara Wheeler Mitchell and husband, Lloyd; her nephew, Scott Wheeler and wife, Joan; Michael Wheeler and wife, Karen; and her great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, Oct 28 at the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel with Will Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia. Visitation will be 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home.