Walter Douglas Rather

Walter Douglas "Doug" Rather, 72, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2014. Born January 17, 1942, to Walter L. and Elizabeth Walker Rather, Doug graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1960 and Henderson State University in 1965. In 1968, he completed his Masters of Social Work from The University of Missouri at Columbia. In 1965, he married Shirley Weatherly of Tillar, Arkansas; they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in June, 2014. For more than 30 years, Doug utilized his great love and concern for others as a social worker for the Veterans' Administration, where he retired as Chief of Social Work. He loved music, sports, history, nature and the outdoors – especially when shared with family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley Weatherly Rather; his children, Staci Phillips (Mike Desola) of Rogers and Mason Rather (Claire Curley) of Maplewood, New Jersey; by his mother, Elizabeth Walker Rather and brother John Rather (Becky) of Little Rock, and his grandchildren, whom he adored, Caroline and Cole Phillips of Rogers and Sam and Lily Rather of New Jersey. A visitation service will be held Sunday, August 10, from 6-8 p.m., at Rollins Funeral Home, (1401 West Hudson Road, Rogers, Arkansas, 72756). Committal of ashes and graveside service will be held Monday, August 11, 3 p.m. at Crestview Memorial Park and Mausoleum, (3077 East Grand Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 71901) with Dr. Bill Brown officiating. The family will receive friends before the committal of ashes from 1-2:30 p.m. across the street at Crossgate Church (3100 East Grand Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 71901). The family requests that expressions of sympathy be sent to the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA, 3825 Cawood Lane, Springdale, Arkansas, 72762) or the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (614 East Emma Avenue, Suite 119, Springdale, Arkansas, 72764). Online condolences can be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.