James Conrad Battreal

James Conrad Battreal, 89, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on June 13, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born on February 11, 1937, in Old Mines, Missouri, the son of James Edward and Etta Coleman Battreal.

Conrad grew up in Malvern, Arkansas, where he developed a deep and lifelong love for baseball — a passion that would define much of his character and spirit. He attended Malvern High School, where he played for the Malvern Leopards and, at just seventeen years old, caught the attention of the Detroit Tigers minor league organization. He went on to attend the University of Arkansas, where he played outfield for the Razorbacks before earning his degree in civil engineering.

Following his graduation, Conrad answered the call to serve his country, completing three years of service in the United States Army Medical Service Corps, stationed at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. He then embarked on a distinguished career in public service, dedicating over forty years to the Little Rock District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. At the heart of that work, he built one of the most prolific floodplain programs in the nation, managing the production of more than a thousand flood maps and studies for the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, states, local communities, and private interests. He traveled extensively across the United States providing training to local, state, and federal employees and private companies on flood loss reduction measures and received numerous national awards for his contributions — including his pioneering work on nonstructural flood risk reduction. He served as Chairman of the National Flood Proofing Committee and oversaw the publication of many reports on flood proofing. Conrad also played a significant role in the development of the Arkansas River Navigation Channel. He subsequently served thirteen years with FTN Associates and held the position of Executive Director of the Arkansas Floodplain Management Association — a career marked throughout by integrity, expertise, and dedication to the state of Arkansas.

Conrad was a founding member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock, and his service to his parish was immeasurable. For more than twenty years, he devoted himself to forming the next generation of the faithful, instructing new altar servers with patience and dedication. In 2005, Conrad and Mary Edythe founded the church's first vocation committee — an initiative whose fruits have been extraordinary. Through their prayers and steadfast commitment, numerous young men from Christ the King have gone on to become priests, and the parish has since claimed the most vocations in the entire diocese. In recognition of his exceptional service to the parish, the diocese, and the broader community, Conrad was awarded the Diocese Service Medal in 2007.

As the years passed, Conrad's love of competition found a new home on the church league softball diamond. In the early 1970s, he began playing — and soon coaching — for Christ the King, where his competitive spirit and natural leadership elevated the program to championship caliber. In 1982, he led the team to the Arkansas State Championship. His lasting contributions to the sport were formally recognized in 2015, when he was inducted into the Arkansas Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame.

Above all else, Conrad was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He married Mary Edythe in 1966, and together they recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary — a testament to a partnership built on love, faith, and shared life. His children and grandchildren were his greatest pride and joy.

Conrad is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Edythe; his son, Jim (Katie); his daughter, Meredith (Vaughan); his cherished grandchildren, Mary Haven, Hannah, Landon, Asher, and Maddie Kate; and his sister, Jane Woodie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Edward and Etta Coleman Battreal; his brother, Paul Battreal; and his sister, Patricia Speer.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Joseph Ssendagi and Sandi Davis for the devoted and compassionate care they provided to Conrad in his final days. Their kindness and dedication were a profound comfort to Conrad and to the entire family.

Conrad Battreal lived a life of quiet excellence — as a student, a soldier, an engineer, an athlete, a coach, a servant of his church, and above all, a family man. He will be deeply missed and long remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Christ the King Catholic Church, followed by the Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church.