Dr. John Kenneth Beadles

Ken Beadles, 79, of Jonesboro peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, August 30, at his home. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great- grandfather.
He was born in Alva, Oklahoma on September 22, 1931 to Joseph Haven and Ellen Amanda Beadles, who along with one brother preceded him in death.
During the Korean Conflict, he served in the United States Navy as a DT3. After returning from the Navy in 1954, he began his educational career earning a BS degree from Northwestern State College in Alva, Oklahoma with a double major in biology and chemistry in 1957. For the next 5 years, he was a science teacher and football coach in the Alva School System. In 1962 he began graduate school at Oklahoma State University and received his MS degree in 1963 followed by a PhD in 1965.
In 1965, he came to Arkansas State University as an assistant professor in the Biology Department. He left the U.S. in 1966 to work with USAID in the Ethiopia-Oklahoma A&M Project in Alemaya, Ethiopia, Africa as a science teacher, researcher, and advisor at Haille I University. In 1968, he returned to Arkansas State University as Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences, a position he held for 16 years. In 1982, he was elected President of the Arkansas Academy of Science. He also has been an active leader in the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, serving two terms on its Executive Committee and as a member of its Committee on Committees. In 1984, he moved to the position of Dean of the Graduate School and Director of Organized Research until his retirement in 1993. He played a key role in the successful role in the establishment of the School of Nursing and the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership, the university's first doctoral program. In 2010, he was honored to be selected as one of the "First 100 Distinguished Faculty" at Arkansas State University.
He was a member of the American Fisheries Society, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta, Phi Delta Kappa and was a Danforth Fellow.
Dr. Beadles was a pioneer in catfish farming and research in Northeast Arkansas during a period from 1965 until 1978 on the 8 pond complex at ASU's farm in Walcott, Arkansas. Many students performed research and learned new techniques in catfish farming during those years. He authored and co-authored a total of 29 Publications and Environmental Reports on mammals and fish during his career. Across the nation today is a generation of teachers, researchers, and fisheries personnel who began their professional education in Dr. Beadles' classroom.
After his retirement in 1993 from ASU, he became involved in Jonesboro civic activities. He served as chair of the Jonesboro Ecumenical Council, helped in the construction of two Habitat for Humanity houses, served on the advisory board of the Women's Recovery Center, the Jonesboro Urban Renewal and Housing Authority, and served for many years as Chair of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
He was an active member of the Jonesboro Rotary Club having perfect attendance for 38 years. He served as President in 1978-79, Governor of District 6150 in 1985-86, was a Paul Harris Fellow, and a recipient of the James F. Gramling Award for outstanding and dedicated community service. in 1994, he received an international citation for meritorious service to the Rotary Foundation. While he was District Governor, he obtained a matching grant to build a walk-in hospital in Lahore Pakistan, the first special gift project in District 6150.
He served for many years as an United Way volunteer, was on the Board of Trustees of United Way and was selected "Outstanding United Way Volunteer of the Year for 1999-2000"
A longtime member of First Baptist Church, he served as a teacher for the past 28 years, was Chairman of the Deacons, Stewardship Chairman, and Finance Committee Chairman. He served on three church building and major remodeling projects. He helped in the physical construction of Magnolia Road Baptist Church and the South Caraway Baptist Church.
For the past 28 years, he has served as a teacher of the Roy Jolly Sunday School Class and in recent years taught Sunday School classes to the residents of Skillcare Nursing Home, Ridgecrest Rehabilitation Center, and St. Bernard Village. He served on a committee called "Embracing the Promise" which raised several million dollars to renovate and repair facilities throughout the state for the Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries
Ken is survived by Sharon Ruch Beadles, his wife of 55 years, a son, John David Beadles of Jonesboro, a daughter, Kristi Diane Trotter of Jonesboro, grandchildren, Terry Anthony "Tony" Trotter, John Phillip and his wife Ciara Cunningham Trotter, and Matthew and Tara Trotter Joplin all of Jonesboro, and his precious great-granddaughter, Haven Leigh Anne Joplin; six brothers, Joseph H. Beadles Jr. and wife Mary from Mt. Pleasant, Texas , Richard T. Beadles and wife Daryl from Oklahoma city, Oklahoma, Tony G. Beadles and wife Christie from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Jack L. Beadles and wife Ann from Claremore, Oklahoma, Harold D. beadles and wife Margaret from Queensland, Australia, and Donald G. Beadles from Alva, Oklahoma, as well as, nine nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at Emerson's Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church at 10:00 am with Dr. Bruce Tippit officiating. Burial will be private. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Rotary Club of Jonesboro, and the deacons of First Baptist Church.
Lasting memorials can be made to the John Kenneth Beadles Scholarship Fund % ASU Foundation, PO BX 1990, State University, Arkansas 72467, the First Baptist Church "Building Fund" 701 S. Main, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401, or The Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes, PO Bx 552, Little Rock, AR 72203-0552 .
Online registry is at www.emersonfuneralhome.com