Kenneth Ray O'Neal

Kenneth Ray O'Neal, 88, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, April 24 after a recent illness. Ken was a beloved husband, father, granddaddy, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and colleague.

Ken was born on December 21, 1933 to Ruth and Roy O'Neal in Warren, Arkansas. After graduating from Warren High School, Ken went on to study at Draughon Business College in Little Rock. While living and studying in Little Rock, Ken landed his first job as a staffer for the Arkansas Legislative Audit before honorably serving his country in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps in the far east.

Upon his return to Arkansas, Ken kicked off a 32 year career working for Arkla Gas Company. Throughout his tenure with Arkla, he was based in Little Rock, Camden and Hot Springs. Ken enjoyed a passion for civic affairs serving his community through the Rotary Club of Camden, the Camden Chamber of Commerce as President, the Rotary Club of Hot Springs National Park, served on the board of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of Fifty for the Future. As a Friend of the Fordyce, Ken worked with other civic leaders to provide financial and in-kind support as revitalization efforts revived the historic bathhouse landmark. Ken worked to help establish the popular Christmas to Share program with the local AARP to provide hundreds of senior citizens in need fresh produce and free meals during the holidays. Ken also was proud to help his community earn top honors in the Take Pride in America national awards in conjunction with the Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission for efforts to keep Garland Country litter-free.

In 1974, Ken was introduced by friends to Diana Kay Griffith, and they wed later that same year, going on to have one son, Kenneth Christian. Ken had three strong passions: faith, love of family, and hard work. After retiring from full-time work in 1993, Ken spent endless hours gardening outside in his yard. Friends often commented that every blade of grass looked like it had been measured, cut and polished by hand. In fact, his efforts earned him Hot Springs Yard of the Month honors, a prize he was thrilled about. When he was finished with yard work for the day, it was customary for Ken to take a long walk down Prospect Avenue followed by a hike over West Mountain before returning home to read from cover to cover at least two newspapers and countless magazine articles about current local, national and international events.

Ken was preceded in death by his sister Vivian Corinne Williams, his brother William Calvin O'Neal, and his sister Virginia Madine Taliaferro. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife, Diana Kay O'Neal; his son Kenneth Christian O'Neal (Julie); two grandsons, Mason Stephen O'Neal, Beckett Christian O'Neal, and one granddaughter, McKinley Kaye O'Neal.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 28 at First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs with the Rev. J. J. Galloway officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Kenneth R. and Diana K. O'Neal Endowed Scholarship, UA Little Rock Foundation, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR. 72204. The family wishes to thank the hospital staff, nurses and physicians at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for their loving care over the last several months.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grossfuneralhome.com for the O'Neal family.