Ralph (Pete) Carlton Higginbotham

Mr. Ralph (Pete) Carlton Higginbotham, 83, of Hamburg, died Sunday, June 16, 2013 at his residence in Hamburg. Mr. Higginbotham was born December 2, 1929 in Hamburg; a former resident of Killeen, Texas for 40 years having moved back to Hamburg in 1990. He graduated from Hamburg High School in 1948. He was a veteran of the United States Army having retired in 1969 after he served honorably for 20 years. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 4th Award, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp; National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star; Korean Service Medal with one silver star service; Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars; United Nations Service Medal; republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/Device (1960); Expert Badge with Auto Rifle Bar with Pistol Bar and Army Aviation-Aircraft Crewman Badge. Upon his military retirement, he entered civil service at Fort Hood, Texas working in the carpenter and locksmith shops for 20 years until he retired in 1990. He was a member of the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church and he enjoyed fishing and gardening. He is preceded in death by his wives, Bernice Gay Chapman Higginbotham and Elsie Hodges Higginbotham; a son, Randy Wayne Higginbotham; his parents, Gaston & Janie Venters Higginbotham and two brothers; Frank F. (Bunk) & Lavon (Slick) Higginbotham. He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Gloria Deckelman Higginbotham of Hamburg, Arkansas; a son, Ralph Carlton Higginbotham and wife, Sandie, of Killeen, Texas; four daughters, Debra Gay Smith of Killeen, Texas, Karen Ann of Flower Mound, Texas; Sonia Dee Smith and husband, Bill, of Gatesville, Texas; Leslie Lyn Carey and husband, Ron of San Antonio, Texas; three step-children, Debo and Cindy Yates of Pinola, Mississippi; Lucky and Pam Hughes of Hesperia, California and Arthur and Debbie Lacy of Le Cajon, California; two brothers, James Higginbotham and wife, Bobbie, and Norman Higginbotham and wife, Merlyn, all of Hamburg; four sisters, Annie Joe Smith of Crossett, Betty Eubanks, of Hamburg, Louise Pelton and husband, Larry, of Eudora, and Margaret Riely of Hamburg; 13 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Funeral services are 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Reese and Rev. Trey Emory officiating. Graveside services and burial with full military honors will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Killeen City Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. Memorials may be made to the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church Youth Fund, 765 Ashley 70 Road, Hamburg, Ark. 71646. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg. Online guest book at www.jones-hartshorn.com.