Walter M. Ebel Jr.

Walter M. Ebel Jr., 94, of Hot Springs, fondly known as "Bookie" to his friends, passed away Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Hot Springs at age 94. He was born on October 18, 1921, and was a lifelong resident of the Spa City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mamie and Walter Ebel, a well-known local newspaper reporter and radio commentator, and by his brother, Henry. Bookie also was preceded in death by his wife of almost 65 years, Alyce, who passed away December 31, 2012. Bookie attended St. John's Elementary School, and played on the old Southern Club softball team as a youngster. He attended Hot Springs High School (graduating in 1939) where he excelled at ping pong, golf and tennis; and partnered to win a State team doubles tennis championship for the Trojans. He later worked as a freight auditor at the ALCOA aluminum plant at Jones Mill before joining the U.S. Air Corps where he served during World War II, rising to the rank of captain. After discharge from the military, Bookie returned to Hot Springs and married Alyce Hammond of El Dorado on January 10, 1948. In the late 1940's and early 1950's he worked as a clerk at the Southern Club, managed the Hale Bath House, and owned and operated a Conoco service station on Malvern Avenue near the current Indiandale Shopping Center. He and Alyce began their family a short distance from there, across the road on Malvern, in a rent house on property owned by their close friends, fellow golfers and traveling companions, Lou and Joe Miller. Bookie later co-owned and operated with his close friend and golfing partner, Dane Harris, and others, many notable night clubs in Hot Springs, including the famous Vapors Club, Belvedere Club, Ohio Club, White Front Club and Tower Club. In 1963, Bookie acquired part ownership of the Avanelle Motor Lodge (and Sirloin Room Restaurant) at Central and West Grand Avenues, which he co-owned with the Garland and John Ed Anthony family, and managed for approximately 30 years until his retirement in 1994. His desk in his office at the Avanelle included a prominently displayed plaque with the words: "The time to make friends is before you need them." Bookie was an avid golfer and one of the top amateur players in the region during the 1940's and 1950's. He was a past medalist in the Arkansas State Amateur Golf Championship, and a member of a 4-man team from Hot Springs that won the Arkansas State Team Golf Championship. He won the Oil Belt Golf Championship in El Dorado in 1950 and 1952, as well as numerous Hot Springs city and club golf championships, the last in 1977 at age 55. He was a member of Hot Springs Country Club for over 70 years, and a daily participant in gin rummy games in the HSCC card room, which was named the "Ebel-Eisele Card Room" in 2014 in honor of Bookie and his best friend for over 90 years, Dr. Martin Eisele. Bookie was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and participated in numerous local community organizations during his career, including service on the Board of Directors of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs Convention Bureau, Fifty for the Future and United Way. He also was instrumental with his wife Alyce in founding the Bridge House of Hot Springs, where he and his wife played duplicate bridge together for many years. Bookie's family, including his wife Alyce, always came first. He is survived by his son, Walter M. Ebel III (Skip), of Little Rock, and daughter, Mary Lucinda Clifton (Cindy), and her husband, Joe, of Dallas, Texas; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Joseph Clifton Jr. (JJ) and his wife, Sharon, and their son, Trip, of San Rafael, California, Jeff Clifton and his wife, Jenny, and their sons, Cooper and Jack, of Dallas, and Meg Meyrowitz and her husband, Scott, and their sons, Sam and Ben, of Boynton Beach, Florida. He also is survived by a nephew, Ray Robinson and his wife, Marilyn, of Richland, Washington. The family plans a private funeral service. The family will host a reception on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hot Springs Country Club to celebrate Bookie's life. All of Bookie's friends and friends of his family are invited and encouraged to attend the reception. The Ebel family would like to especially thank all the special care givers at Brookfield Assisted Living for the kind and wonderful care they gave to Bookie over the last 20 months. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 228 Spring Street, Hot Springs, Ark. 71901, or to the charity of your choice. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.GrossFuneralHome.com.