Gerald G. Price

Gerald G. Price, 89, of Rudy died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Memory Lane of Legacy Heights Assisted Living of Van Buren. He was born Jan. 30, 1923, in Fort Smith. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1938 and was baptized in the Baptist church. He served as a Sunday school teacher and on the Board of Trustees at Goddard United Methodist, was a member of Grace Community Church and has recently been attending Community Bible Church of Van Buren. Gerald was an Army veteran of World War II and obtained the rank of Sargent in the Signal Corp while stationed at Halandia, New Guenea. He married his wife, Laverne, in 1947 and has been happily married 65 years. He graduated with Honors from the University of Arkansas in 1951. He then opened Price Agency Real Estate and Insurance in 1951. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society. He was a charter member of the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club joining at the age of 5 ½ in 1928 and has been a lifelong supporter of the club. He has been a member of Optimist Club of Fort Smith since 1951 and has served as President of the local club, and Lieutenant Governor of the Arkansas Louisiana District. He served as President of the Fort Smith Board of Realtors in 1964, received Realtor of the Year in 1965 and 1974, was one of five realtors selected to develop the Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee, President of the Fort Smith Home Builders Association 1972, President of the Arkansas Realtors Association in 1973; Chairman of the Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee 1976, Director of the National Association of Realtors 1975, 1976, 1977; received the Certified Commercial Investment Membership (CCIM) in 1977, Regional Vice President of National Association of Realtors 1980, served on the National Realtors Political Action Committee from 1980 to 1986 and was invited to the oval office on three occaisions to meet with President Ford, President Carter and President Reagan. Gerald was an active member of his community and served as board member of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 1982-1983 and board member of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce in 1985. He received the Living Legend Award from the City of Van Buren in 1995 and the Spirit of the Frontier Award from the City of Fort Smith in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Laverne; two daughters, Laura Sloat Sligar and husband Paul Sligar of Arlington, Texas, and Jennifer Moffett and husband Jack Moffett of Rudy; a son, Scott Price and wife Martha Price of Rudy; three sisters, JoAnn Davis and husband Bob Davis of Benton, Doris Boman of Fort Smith and Janelle Ehrlich and husband Bob Ehrlich of Follett, TX; two brothers, Wayne Price of Moreno Valley, California and Buddy Price of Lexington, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceeded in death by his parents, Ethel Cook Price and Floyd Houston Price and two sisters, Virginia Maxey, and Wanda Lee Wilson and two brothers, Earl Price and Loy Price. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Chris Price, Josh Price, Matt Price, Gabe Flanagan, Sam Moffett, and Jordan Sligar. Honorary Pallbearers are Harold Daily, Russ Berry, and members of the Fort Smith Optimist Club. Visitation will be 5-7 pm, Wednesday at Edwards Funeral Home. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter, 3015 S 14, Fort Smith, AR 72901; Crawford County Fire District One, P.O. Box 117, Rudy, AR 72952 or the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club c/o Optimist Club, P.O. Box 10881, Fort Smith, AR 72917. To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome