Patricia Ellen Racster Koonce

Patricia Ellen Racster Koonce, 83, of Little Rock died Thursday. She was born April 12, 1928, in Albion, Ill., went to high school and married in Evansville, Ind., and lived in Hopkins, Minn. before moving to Little Rock in 1954. Left as a single parent to rear four children ranging in age from 15 months to 7 years, she was a stern but loving mother who put her family before herself, and later a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She was retired from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, where she was well-known for her comprehensive knowledge of the retirement system. She was a former president of the Diamond and Arkansas Bicentennial chapters of the American Business Women's Association and an enthusiastic member of the Twirling Lariats square dance club. For more than 55 years, she was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she volunteered in the office and played in the bell choir. She was a member of the Red Cross 5 Gallon Donor Club. She enjoyed bowling, traveling, solving crossword puzzles and the cryptoquote, murder mysteries, helping people and trying new things, including learning how to swim at age 38. She was a friend to all and never met a stranger. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nona Racster; a brother, John R. (Jay) Racster, and a son, Robert E. (Bob) Koonce. She is survived by two brothers, Don Racster of Evansville and Darrell Racster of Valparaiso, Ind.; a son, Gerald Koonce (Myrna Thomas) of Little Rock; two daughters, Wilma Keller (John) of Little Rock, and Janice O'Neal (Doyel) of Mount Ida; three grandchildren, Tucker O'Neal (Cory), Robert Keller and Perry Keller, all of Little Rock, and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2223 Durwood Road, at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 with visitation afterward at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts in her name to St. Paul United Methodist Church, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County or a favorite charity. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.