Harry Charles Erwin

Harry Charles Erwin, 86, of Little Rock, passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2014. He was born in Bearden, Arkansas on January 24, 1928. Mr. Erwin was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Foy Erwin and his parents, Christine Cockrill Erwin and Harry Charles Erwin Sr. Mr. Erwin is survived by his three children, Dee Vinson and husband Dale, Chuck Erwin and wife Terri, Robert Erwin, grandchildren, Daniel Martinez and wife Courtney, Alyssa Martinez, Marisa Ann and Clayton Erwin, Ford Rogers and wife Amy, Kate, Patrick, Elly and Grace Erwin and great grandchildren, Annabelle Rogers and Graham Martinez. At an early age, Mr. Erwin's family moved to Little Rock where his father was in the banking business. He graduated from Little Rock High (Central High School) in 1945 and after a brief stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, returned to Little Rock where he attended Little Rock University (UALR). He completed his education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he majored in accounting. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Society Fraternity and the Beta Gamma Sigma, an honorary business society. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas, he began his public accounting career in 1950 at Russell Brown & Company, the largest certified public accounting firm in Arkansas at the time. He quickly passed the CPA Exam on his first attempt. Over the next few decades through hard work and determination, Mr. Erwin became the managing partner of Russell Brown & Company. He continued to serve in that role until the January, 1982 merger of Russell Brown & Company and the national accounting firm of Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young). Mr. Erwin was instrumental in helping several Arkansas businesses grow and prosper. These businesses include Tyson Foods, Inc., Allied Telephone Company (predecessor to Alltel Corporation) where Mr. Erwin served on the Board of Directors and Producers Rice Mill, Inc. Mr. Erwin served as treasurer of numerous nonprofit organizations and political campaigns during his career. He also served as Chairman of the Board of First National Bank of Stuttgart. Beginning in 1984, Mr. Erwin was a consultant to the accounting firm of Erwin & Company where he continued to serve his longtime clients until his retirement. Mr. Erwin and his wife, Pat, loved to travel and traveled extensively in Europe and throughout the United States. They took the entire Erwin family on numerous cruises and trips over the years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed spending time at Circle "S" hunting club. The family wishes to express their thanks and appreciation to caregivers Mary Harris, Willie Yarbrough, Sybil Netherton, Roosevelt Berry, Felicia Kilpatrick and Connie Buerkle for their dedicated service in caring for Mr. Erwin during the past several years. A Visitation and Celebration of Harry Erwin's life will be held at the home of Terri and Chuck Erwin, 17 Glenridge Rd., Little Rock, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2014. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 West 17th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. The Reverend Dr. Christoph Keller, III, Interim Dean and Rector of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, will officiate. There will be a private family burial. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com. The family requests that Memorials be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 West 17th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72206, the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210 or Episcopal Collegiate School, 1701 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.