Anthony H. Ullrich

The story of a life well-lived isn’t told in words. It’s told by the laugh lines on a face, the love that is shared freely & generously with family and friends, the memories made and treasured with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren & great great grandchildren and perhaps, above all, the way folks feel when they are with you. The life of Anthony Hubert Ullrich was exceptional, yet simple, as he lived a life measured not by material things, but by love and good deeds, and the desire to always nurture and care for those around him. A well-lived life by every definition.

Born August 16,1925 to Louise (Binz) & Hubert Ullrich in the small town of Paris, AR & grew up on a farm in Carbon City. Anthony's country roots were seen in his talents & actions. Anthony's love & dedication for his family started with the death of his father, when he freely took on the responsibilities as "the man of the house" at the age of 13. He worked on the farm, the coal mine and other means to help provide for his family. Even though Anthony led a tough life he never lost sight of all the joys around him, his ability to smile, to live life to the fullest.

In his younger days, Anthony & his brothers were known for their fun adventures and their "shenanigans". Anthony's love of life was seen through his fun sense of humor & his kind loving heart.

At the young age of 17 Anthony moved to San Diego to work in the shipyards during WWII. Even then he never lost sight of his priorities, sending money & gas rationing stamps back to his mama to ensure she & his siblings were taken care of. Anthony worked long hard hours while in CA, typically working 7 days a week. After 24 months of service Anthony received the prestigious honor of having a ship named after him. An honor he held close to his heart.

Upon returning to Arkansas he married the love of his life Anna Bertha (Ihle) Ullrich on September 1, 1948. Anna & Anthony were blessed with a beautiful marriage for 71 years just one month shy of 72. Setting an example for generations.

In 1950 he & Anna moved to Little Rock, AR, where he was employed by Herman Binz Ornamental Iron Works until he retired in 1990. They lived in Little Rock until they moved to The Colony, Texas in 2011.

Anthony loved all music but especially loved country, blue grass & polka. Anthony was always ready to hit the dance floor & the last to leave. Even at 98 he was young at heart & was always ready for one more dance. Anthony loved being active and was always ready to go anywhere. He loved rodeos, parades, car shows, tractor pulls, fireworks, ball games, car, boat or even tractor rides.

Being raised in the country "Sonny" acquired the talent, skills & joys of gardening. He could grow anything from potatoes to pineapples, even lemons.

He found much joy in making & tasting his own "brew"- typically wine. He loved puzzling, playing bingo or cards, scratching lottery tickets & on holidays you could even find him playing at the "beer pong" table.

Anthony was an active member of the Catholic Church at Our Lady of Good Counsel in LR, AR for 62 years. He was an usher & was always willing to do anything requested or needed by the church. Upon moving to Texas his faith only grew stronger & he developed a great love for his new religious family at Holy Cross Catholic Church in The Colony, Tx

Anthony loved to dress up and was always seen wearing his cowboy hat with much pride. Anthony was a cowboy by all measures. He possessed all the characteristics of a "real cowboy": hard working, respect for others, loved God & family above all else, had a strong connection with children, the elderly & animals and had the strength to cope with whatever struggles life threw his way.

Those of us who had the opportunity to know & love Anthony are truly the lucky ones! To know him was to love him.

Anthony was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife Anna, his father Hubert Ullrich, mother Louise (Binz) Ullrich, brother Johnny, two sisters Barbara & Patricia, two daughter in-laws Phyllis and Darleen, two granddaughters Linda & Stephanie and a great-grandson Tyne Noggle.

He is survived by five children, John Ullrich of Rosebud, AR, Gilbert Ullrich of Prescott, AR, Paul Ullrich of Texarkana, AR, Cathy (Ullrich) Swiderski (Ed) from Chester, NH and Betty (Ullrich) Jones (Kerry) of The Colony, TX. In addition to his children, Anthony leaves behind eight grandchildren, Angela Noggle (Jimmy) from Rosebud, AR, John Michael Ullrich (Eve) from Sherwood, AR, Tonya Munnerlyn (Darren) from Humphry, AR, Jamie Berger (Shawn) from Searcy, AR,
David Swiderski (Trinity) from Chester, NH,
Alyssa Swiderski (Jimmy) from Queensbury, NY, Parker Jones (Alexis) from The Colony, TX, Logan Jones from The Colony, TX as well as six Great Grandchildren with number seven, Colston, arriving In January, 2024 and one great great granddaughter, Andrea arriving April 2024.

Visitation & Rosary will be held Wednesday, December, 27 at 6:00pm at Pinecrest Funeral Home, Alexandra, AR

A Funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Little Rock, AR on Thursday, December, 28 at 1:00pm burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.