Paul L. Barnard Jr.

PAUL LESLIE BARNARD, JR., passed into the loving arms of Jesus on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the age of 91. He was at home, surrounded by his loving family. Paul was born on July 20, 1924 to Paul Leslie and Mattie Elliott Barnard, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from Little Rock High School, he attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and in 1949 graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a B.S. degree in business administration. While there, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. As a young boy, Paul was stricken with Rheumatic fever, which left him with a heart murmur. This murmur kept him from serving in the armed forces during WWII, and so, as a form of service to his country Paul became a photographer in the FBI Crime Lab, Washington, D.C. He was also stationed in Mexico City, Mexico for a time in the late 1940's until the CIA was formed and the international branch of the FBI was disbanded. Paul resigned from the FBI in 1948 to finish school at the University of Arkansas. After graduating, Paul returned to Little Rock. In 1950 he met Velda Pogue in church training union at Second Baptist Church and they married in 1951. They were happily married for 61 years. He was a salesman for American Greeting Cards, Remington Rand, and then retired after 23 years with UARCO business forms. Paul was blessed with excellent health for all of his life. This good health was obvious at the age of two when he won the prize of being the healthiest baby in the state in the Junior League's baby health contest at the Arkansas State Fair in 1926. Paul's percentage was 98.87, as reported in the Arkansas Democrat on October 17, 1926. Paul enjoyed photography, and for many years he loved to play tennis, baseball, and especially bowling, but his favorite place to spend time was at Lake Norrell, where Paul and his dad had bought a lot in 1957. Paul built 2 cabins there, although that was never where he and his wife lived. Paul was active for many years in the Lake Norrell Area Association, where he served as Treasurer for 4 years and on the audit committee from 1994 to 2002. Paul accepted Jesus as his Savior on April 2, 1933 at a "tent meeting" led by evangelist Mordecai Ham. He was ordained a deacon in June, 1962. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church for over 25 years, during which time he served in many capacities including Chairman of Deacons and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He was currently an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church, since 1990. He volunteered in the Recreation Center every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, and worked in the Immanuel Food Pantry on Tuesday mornings, where he was affectionately known as the "egg man ". He was co-founder and treasurer of the Creation Science Legal Defense Fund of Arkansas, and co-founder of the Louisiana chapter. He was a frequent lecturer on creation vs. evolution in schools and churches, stressing the many scientific evidences which strongly support creation. He spoke in over 45 churches and schools in the 1980's and 1990's. Paul was a cheerful, loving man, who loved his family, and taught us that nothing was ever as bad as it seemed. He always had an optimistic attitude, chose to look on the bright side of things, and never complained. Even when he found out on April 15th that he had cancer, he remained thankful for the long life that God had given him. He is survived by his son, Paul David (Patty) Barnard of Germantown, TN, daughter, Beverly Ann (Bernard) Wait of Little Rock; five grandchildren, Brett (Jill) Wait of Sherwood, Audrey Barnard of Newport Beach, CA, Rachel (John) Ekenseair of North Little Rock, Christen (John) Hansen of Rogers, AR, Stephen Wait of Little Rock; four great-grandchildren, Lilah Hansen of Rogers, AR, Benjamin Wait, and Catherine and Caroline Wait of Sherwood, AR. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.Thursday at Griffin Leggett Healy Roth Funeral Home, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock (501) 661-9111. Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m.Friday at Roselawn Memorial Park, Forest Lawn Section,Little Rock with Rev. Dale Pogue officiating. Memorials may be made to: Immanuel Baptist Church, Food Pantry Fund (or other ministry of your choice), 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, AR 72211. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com