Barbara Faught

Barbara Faught, age 72, of Fort Smith, passed away Tuesday, March 31st at Mercy Hospital of Fort Smith. She was the wife of Bill Faught. Barbara loved her life and will be dearly missed by family, former students and friends. She was born Barbara Jane Pugh on February 25, 1943, daughter of Ruby Nell (Whitten) and W.T. "Dub" Pugh, postmaster and owner of the general store in Rover. Barbara attended Rover/Plainview High School where she played basketball. She continued pursuing education and love of basketball at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Education and played offense for the basketball team. She married Bill Faught, originally of Plainview, in 1965. After having three children, Tammy and twin sons Kevin and Keith, she earned a Master's degree in Education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1972. Her husband's career in city management led them to Ashland, Kentucky, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, before settling in Fort Smith in 1982. Barbara taught business courses at Northside High School from 1982 until her retirement in 2005. During that time, she helped place countless students in jobs in Fort Smith and for several years directed the COE (Cooperative Office Education) Program, sponsored Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), served as pep club sponsor, and supported Northside Athletics. She also owned and ran businesses, including Baskin Robbins and Snelling Personnel. Determined and strong, she successfully battled breast cancer in 2003. After retirement, Barbara remained active, coaching her oldest granddaughter, Whitney's basketball teams. She loved following her granddaughter's high school basketball career and was looking forward to continuing being her biggest fan at Lyon College. She was active in organizing the Northside High School Retirees meetings, was an avid Razorback fan and formidable bridge player. She was also a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, W.T. and Ruby Pugh of Rover, and her brother, William "Bill" Pugh of Paris. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bill Faught; daughter Tammy O'Dell, her husband Phil and granddaughters, Whitney and Julianne of Fort Smith; son Kevin Faught, his wife Melanie and grandsons Charlie, Brady and John Tyler of Fayetteville; and son Keith Faught, his wife Breanna, and grandson Andrew of Fayetteville. Funeral services will be held on 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2015 in Roebuck Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Fort Smith. Private burial will be at a later time at Fort Smith National Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591 or Rover Baptist Church, P.O. Box 42, Rover, Arkansas 72860. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.