Trudean Tedford

Earnesteen Trudean (Tipton) Tedford, known as Trudean by most and as “Dean” by family, was born the first child of her parents, Velta Earnesteen (Bridges) Tipton and Woodrow Wilson Tipton, at home, in the Dripping Springs community near Judsonia, White County, Arkansas, while her father was serving overseas during WWII. She spent most of her childhood in the home of her grandparents, Strother Houston Bridges and Sarah Leona (Landis) Bridges, whom she treasured and lovingly called Ma and Pa.

Her elementary years were spent at Providence School, after which she attended and graduated, valedictorian, from White County Central High School. After attending one semester at Southwestern College in Waxahachie, Texas, she returned home to attend Arkansas State University in Beebe, Arkansas. It was there that she met her future husband, Billy D. Tedford. Billy was a talented singer and musician who, while walking down a hallway at the college, was intrigued by the sound of beautiful singing and yodeling. When he saw the person behind that voice (Trudean), he was smitten. Thus began a relationship that lasted through 49 years of marriage, four children, and a determination to keep going, no matter what. Their entire married lives were spent in the Woodlawn Community of Austin, Arkansas.

Trudean’s work history included employment at the Van Heusen factory in Des Arc, Arkansas, followed by 23 years at Kellwood Company in Lonoke, Arkansas, starting as a seamstress and leaving as a time study engineer when the company closed. She then took a position at Essick Air Products in Little Rock, Arkansas, again working for 23 years, until her retirement in 2012. There, she helped design efficient production flow and excelled at customer service—always with kindness.

Trudean was very proud of and loved, abundantly, her four children. When grandchildren came along, everything stepped up a level. All the things she had done for her own children, she continued for those grands: sewing homemade pajamas and dresses; crocheting Afghans; making “kid coffee; creating and telling stories for hours, by phone, for those a long distance away; attending all the school activities they could; then weddings, baby showers, births, and the same things for great-grandchildren. She never stopped giving of herself and her talents, to family, friends and co-workers alike. Her signature singing of, “You Are My Sunshine” and “A Bushel and A Peck” will forever ring in our memories, along with her piano playing, most notably of hymns and the always requested, “Last Date”. The recent years included a simple song that she learned in church as a youngster. The message is simple but perfectly exemplifies Trudean Tedford. It’s called; “Smile a While” and the lyrics she sang were: Smile a while and give your face a rest. Raise your hands to the one you love the best. Then, shake hands with someone new, and give to them a smile.” Her smile and the heart behind it will be missed more than we can express. In her memory, we encourage everyone to be like Trudean: give the world a smile every day and never forget Jesus. Of all the names that passed her lips in her later years, the name “Jesus” was the most frequent. She spoke of him, sang of him, and exemplified His love in all her ways.

Trudean was preceded in death by her husband, Billy D. Tedford, of Austin, Arkansas, Father, Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Tipton and step-mother, Maxine Tipton, of Hazen, Arkansas; Mother, Earnesteen (Bridges) (Tipton) Meacham and step-father, Duane Meacham, of Searcy, Arkansas.

She was survived by her four children and their families: Candace “Lisa” Chumbley (Shawn), of Searcy, Arkansas, and their children: Candace Skarda (Corey) of Des Arc, Arkansas, and their children, Calleigh, Camp, Caroline, Cate and Corley; Elecia Krug (Rush) of Inlet Beach, Florida and their children, Lainey, Luke and Lucy; Jarred Moss (Evelyn) of Searcy, Arkansas, and their children, Addison, Ella and Vera; Joshua Moss of Searcy, Arkansas, and his children, Brayden and Jude; Justin Chumbley, Tyler Chumbley, Johnathan Chumbley and Dylan Chumbley, all of Columbus, Indiana, Crystal Fouse (Haskell) of Stilwell, Oklahoma, and their children: Larkin Fouse of Stilwell, Oklahoma and Laura Fouse of Stilwell, Oklahoma, Todd Tedford (Tammie) of Austin, Arkansas, and their children: Phillip Tedford (Lisa) of Beebe, Arkansas, and their children, Valerie and Brooks (and one on the way); Darren Tedford (Amber) of Lonoke, Arkansas, and their children, Madeline and Marlee Tracy Tedford-Latham (Walt) of Austin, Arkansas, and children: Jenny Marie Soderman-Tedford of Austin, Arkansas; Will Latham, IV (Ashton) of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina and their children, Brayden and Easton (and one on the way); and Josh Latham of Aberdeen, North Carolina. She was also survived by her siblings: Huberta (Tipton) D’Auteuil of Searcy, Arkansas; Dennis Tipton (Dianne) of Hickory Plains, Arkansas; Vickie Tipton of Sanger, Texas; Rhonda Mashburn of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Elizabeth “Libby” Teague of Whitesboro, Texas; Jimmy Tipton (Christy) of Vilonia, Arkansas; and Wade Meacham (Beth) of Searcy, Arkansas; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends (she rarely, if ever, met a stranger or anyone who couldn’t use one of her smiles, hugs, or kind words).

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers at The Brookfield Memory Care in Bella Vista, Arkansas for their loving care while Trudean was a resident there over the past year.

Services by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Drive, Beebe, AR 72012. Visitation is Monday, November 3, 2025, from 6PM – 8PM at Smith Westbrook and the Funeral Service will be Tuesday, November 4th at 11 AM also at Smith Westbrook. Burial to follow at Salem Cemetery, Lonoke Co., Arkansas. To view the online register: www.smithfamilycares.com