Edgar A. Gaulding, III

Edgar "Allen" Gaulding III, 77, of North Little Rock, returned to his heavenly Father on Saturday, September 21, 2024, after a brief illness. He left this earth surrounded by his family, who gave him his life's purpose and joy.

Allen was born on November 18, 1946, in Jackson, MS, to Edgar Allen Gaulding Jr. and Lauree Johnston Gaulding. At the age of 11, his family moved to Ft. Worth, TX, and later to Cincinnati, OH, where he graduated from Fenneyton High School. He went on to attend Memphis State University and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Allen was hired by Aetna Insurance as a safety engineer, which brought him to Little Rock, AR, where he met his wife, Kathy. They were married for 52 years and raised two wonderful daughters. Allen worked for Aetna Insurance for 26 years and then for Travelers Insurance for 14 years. He was appointed by three different governors to serve on the Arkansas Elevator Safety Board for 18 years. He retired in 2010, at the age of 63.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed many hobbies including hunting, fishing, working in the yard, and golfing. Allen spent many Saturday mornings throughout his life on the golf course playing a round or two with his friends and teaching those he loved more about the game that he loved. He shared his love for the outdoors with his daughters and grandchildren. He especially enjoyed taking them camping at Mt. View and to the town square to play his harmonica and listen to bluegrass music.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. Allen had a passion for missions and was chairman of the committee for many years. He especially enjoyed mission trips to Rio Bravo, Mexico. Those trips left a lasting impression on him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Lauree Gaulding. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Kathy Kittle Gaulding; his daughters Laura Winters of North Little Rock, and Tracy Dorathy and her husband Bryan, of Hot Springs; his 5 grandchildren Courtney and Emily Winters, Ashton, Hunter, and Logan Dorathy. He is also survived by his sister, Susan Gaulding Upchurch and her husband Don of Houston, TX, and cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 on Wednesday, September 25, at Smith Family Funeral Home (1921 Main St., North Little Rock). Funeral services will follow at 2:00.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, NLR, or Arkansas Hospice Foundation (14 Parkstone Circle, NLR, AR, 72116).