Ellen Stutchman

Ellen Stutchman obituary, Pine Bluff, AR

Ellen Stutchman

Ellen Stutchman Obituary

Published by Legacy on Oct. 1, 2025.
Ellen Elizabeth Stutchman of Pine Bluff, died on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. She was born in Kilgore, Texas on March 28, 1956, to the late William Zedoc and Miriam Cox Stutchman.
Ellen graduated from Kilgore High School, attended Kilgore College for two years, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from Baylor University in 1979.
Around that time, several of her friends in Pine Bluff desired to have an orchestra program in our schools. She considered the idea, not knowing much about Pine Bluff.
She finally concluded, "Oh well, I can stand anything for a year." That was in 1980, 45 years ago!
She then moved to Pine Bluff to found the orchestra program in the Pine Bluff schools. The first recruiting event was held in Fall of 1980, and the orchestra soon had over 100 students.
Ellen led the orchestra program until 2010. She also played viola in several area symphonies, and was instrumental in helping to create the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra and its associated Youth Orchestra, an audition-only group for orchestra students in Pine Bluff and the surrounding area.
During that time, she earned the Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. After retiring from the Pine Bluff Schools, she taught English and Music Appreciation at Southeast Arkansas College until her retirement in 2017.
Ellen was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Pine Bluff, where she was active in the music programs. She later joined the congregation of Grace Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the vestry. She taught private violin and viola lessons for many years. Recently, she had served on the board of Neighbor to Neighbor.
She was also predeceased by two brothers, William Curtis Waldrop and William David Stutchman. Her survivors include two brothers, Gerry Luther Waldrop (Janell) of Mineral, VA and James Michael Stutchman of Nacogdoches, Texas. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews; and her longtime friend, Ellen Nuckolls of Pine Bluff.
The burial in Graceland Cemetery will be private. Ellen's Memorial Service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, officiated by the Rev. Curtis Jones and the Rev. Jane Huffstetler on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. Funeral arrangements are with Robinson & Fuller Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 4101 S. Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71603; or to Neighbor to Neighbor, 1419 S. Pine St. Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
For online condolences, please visit RobinsonFuller.com
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