Dorothy Louise Willmuth

On August 6, 2018, the Spirit of Life departed the body of DOROTHY LOUISE ZALAKER WILLMUTH of Little Rock. She was the last survivor of the immediate family of Mary and John Zalaker who had emigrated from Vienna, Austria, in the late 1890s. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, John Jr., Frank, twins, Paul and Peter, and Mary (Mamie), as well as her husband, Homer Neal Willmuth to whom she was married 43 years. She was also preceded in death by Punkin, her beloved golden-haired cat who was her constant companion for 15 years, and the inspiration for her award-winning love story, "The Widow and the One-Eyed Tom Cat," acknowledged by the Massachusetts Cultural Council writing competition. She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter, Mary Willmuth of Little Rock, with whom she had shared her home the past 13 years, having lived in Walnut Ridge, Ark., for over 70 years before moving to Massachusetts for Mary's care and companionship. In 2013, they moved to Little Rock to make their home after Mary retired from MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Dorothy attended and graduated from the Walnut Ridge school system, achieving numerous honors, awards and medals, before graduating in 1942. She immediately began work as an administrative assistant with the engineers constructing the Walnut Ridge Army Base, a career spanning the war years and on, into over 45 years at the airfield with various phases of commercial activities, finally retiring in 1988 from Frit Industries. After retirement, she enjoyed hobbies of fishing, gardening, antique furniture restoration, and sewing beautiful dresses of her own design. Private inurnment will take place at Lawrence Memorial Park, Walnut Ridge, at a later date. She had much interest in the Wings of Honor Museum at the Walnut Ridge airfield, and also the Arkansas Wine Museum in Paris, Ark. It is suggested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be considered for these museums, or Best Friends Animal Society, Box 567, Kanab, Utah 84741. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 501-224-2200. Dorothy's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.