George Bledsoe was a man of few words, but through his actions, consistently clear about what he loved. George was a graduate of Hot Springs High School, first-generation college student at Arkansas A&M College and a member of Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity. His GPA didn’t reflect it, but he was a voracious learner. His favorite topic was the natural world. At an early age, he knew he wanted to be a forester, and his love for nature was cemented as he worked to become an Eagle Scout. Throughout his career, he was known to say, “I get paid to drive around and watch trees grow.” After retirement, he turned his attention to native plants and ideal ecosystems for butterflies.
George began his career in forestry as a park ranger in the Hot Springs National Park. He soon went to work for Dierks Lumber Company. Dierks was acquired by Weyerhaeuser, and George continued there for 39 years, working in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi. In 2002, he retired in Hot Springs. George had many achievements as a forester. He patented a tool for fertilizing saplings during their planting, creating a perpetual forest in southeast Oklahoma to provide continuous resources for the region. As a manager, he designed a number of programs to recruit a more diversified workforce.
Love for his profession extended beyond his work. He was a member of the Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi Society of American Foresters, and his quest for knowledge was later displayed as an active member of the Local Jazz Society and the Hot Springs Historical Society. George was married to his wife, Wilma Nell Rogers, in March of 1964. His passing was only weeks away from their 59th wedding anniversary. He could often be found alongside his wife in her community work, most notably in projects supported by the First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs, including work on behalf of The Caring Place.
George’s favorite pastime was spending time at the lake and enjoying his roles of father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The family cherishes the many days at the lake with him and the dozens of ways that he shared his happy place with them.
George is predeceased by his mother, Azel Floye (Floye) Bledsoe, and father, James Eugene (Gene) Bledsoe, of Hot Springs; twin brother, Gene Bledsoe, of Searcy; and youngest daughter, Angelean Marie Bledsoe Lenihan, of Warwick, R.I.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma Nell Rogers Bledsoe, Hot Springs; eldest daughter, Geania Bledsoe Dickey and her husband Matthew (Matt) Dickey, of Malvern; grandsons, Adam Bledsoe Dickey, of Denver, Colo., and William Marshall Dickey and his wife, Lauren Dickey, of Little Rock; great-grandchildren, Gwyneth Gray and William Wilde Dickey, of Little Rock.
Extended family includes James (Jimmy) Lenihan, of Warwick, R.I.; Arlean P. Rogers, Marsha Sue Rogers and Betty Jo Cochran, of Hot Springs; Sara (Schell) Elkin, of Fayetteville; and Phillis (Schell) and Jim Mills, of Springdale.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 17. A wake will follow at George and Wilma’s home.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages a donation in George’s honor to the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Foundation Fund. These donations will be set aside to support a forestry student in need of financial assistance. Mail checks to: UAM Foundation Fund, Attention Rhonda Parris, P.O. Box 3468, Monticello, AR 71656.