L.D. "Bud" Redden

Dr. L.D. (Bud) Redden passed away peacefully on August 6, 2018. He was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Lilburn D. and Bessie Redden. He moved to Little Rock at age 5 and attended public school graduating from Little Rock High School, now Central. In high school, he was active in the band and was president of the first Young Life Club in Arkansas. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic during World War II. After the war, he went to Little Rock Junior College (UALR) before graduating cum laude from Loyola University School of Dentistry in Chicago, Ill., in 1951. During dental school, he was elected to the following honorary fraternities: Omicron Kappa Upsilon (dental honor fraternity), Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit honor fraternity), and Blue Key. He was also president of Psi Omega, a dental social fraternity. While in dental school, he met and married Bettie Kline of Indiana, an occupational therapist, who was the love of his life. They left Chicago after graduation where Bud served in the U.S. Dental Corps in the Army and interned at Brooke Army Hospital, San Antonio, before being stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Upon leaving the army, Bud set up a dental practice in Little Rock in the Donaghey Building where he practiced from 1954 to 1988. As a dentist, he was a lifetime member of the Arkansas Dental Assoc. and on its Executive Council, a lifetime member of the American Dental Assoc., and served as President of the Central District Society of Dentists. He served as a member of the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners from 1975-1980, serving as Sec.-Treas. He was a member of the Southern Regional Testing Agency and its President in 1980. As a dental examiner working in Kentucky, he was named an Honorary Member of the Kentucky Colonels in 1978. He was an elected member of the Fellow of American College of Dentists in 1979. Outside of his dental practice, he was very civic-minded. He was a charter member of the North Little Rock Jaycees, and its president. They built the first 9 holes of the Burns Park Golf course and gave it to the city of North Little Rock. He was also a charter member of SPEBSQSA – Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing and Quartet Singing in America (president and one time director), singing in several barbershop quartets – the Capitol Aires, Pebble Aires, and Accidentals. He was also a member of the Lakewood Optimist Club and a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. He was in the George Martin Sunday School class and a longtime member of the Chancel Choir. Bud was a little political as well, serving on the North Little Rock School Board from 1973-1980 and served as President of a newly formed NLR Republican Club which was formed to help build a two-party political system in Arkansas. He ran for 4th Ward Alderman on the Republican ticket in 1962. He was the first Republican to file for office in the city of North Little Rock. He was a man of honor and service both to his family, community and country. He lived a life full of great friends and family enjoying activities on Lake Ouachita, on the golf course, and watching the Razorbacks. He was truly one of the greatest of the greatest generation. He was preceded in death by Bettie, his wife of nearly 68 years and his sister, Lee Lipham. He is survived by children, Mark Redden (Susan), Marla Gladwin, and Scott Redden (Margaret), and granddaughter, Taylor Gladwin. A memorial service will be held at Lakewood United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 12, at 2 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to LUMC or a charity of one's choice. Online guest book found at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.