Obituaries

Edouard Marc Oudin Sr.

Photo of Edouard Marc Oudin Sr.
Edouard Marc Oudin, Sr., 92, died peacefully Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in Little Rock. He was born July 9, 1926 in Pine Bluff to the late Edouard Marc Oudin and Dora Perdue Oudin. Marc received his early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School at the age of 16. He went on to study business at the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After one year of college, he enlisted in the Navy and served aboard an LST in the Pacific for the duration of WWII. When the war ended, he returned to the University of Arkansas to complete his business degree. Upon graduation in 1948, Marc returned to Pine Bluff and founded Oudin and Company, an independent insurance agency. He was a designated Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter. In 1956 he met the love of his life, Carolyn Verser of Lonoke, and they married within the year. Together they had four children: a son, Marc Jr., and three daughters, Dora Jane, Ann, and Mary. They were happily married for 60 years until her death in 2016. Throughout his time in Pine Bluff Marc was very involved in the community. He was an elder and deacon at First Presbyterian Church. He was a member and later president of the Pine Bluff Rotary Club and also served as an Arkansas District Governor and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1993 Marc's son assumed control of his insurance business. Marc and Carolyn then moved from Pine Bluff to Little Rock. Marc, having an entrepreneurial spirit, then became involved in several real estate developments with various partners throughout the state. He maintained an office and worked 5 days a week until he was 85 years old. Marc and Carolyn transferred their church membership to Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, where they became actively involved. Marc served as a deacon and faithfully attended the Men's Bible Class. He was also a dedicated volunteer serving the homeless at Stewpot. Marc had a special place in his heart for the preaching of Reverend Steve Hancock and the beautiful music produced by Dr. Bevan Keating. Marc was an avid reader and began every day with a cup of coffee and his beloved newspapers. He was never without a book, and enjoyed both history and non-fiction. Marc also enjoyed daily exercise including tennis, swimming and walking. He and his tennis buddies were thrilled when his local club built an indoor tennis court and they could play year-round. He often told his children he never missed a day without doing something active. Well into his 80's he could be found walking daily on the track at the Little Rock Athletic Club. Marc developed a love of travel, which became an obsession later in his life. He visited all 50 states, all the Presidential Libraries and traveled to 125 countries and 6 continents. At age 80, he went on a 6-week around the world trip without a mobile phone, computer or knowledge of the internet. Everyone was relieved and happy when he arrived home safely. He said it was a great trip, but he missed Carolyn so much that he would never be gone that long again without her. However, into his eighties whenever his adult children offered to travel with him, he eagerly and quickly accepted. He made trips to Cuba, Isle of Mann, Guernsey, the Balkans and Fairhope, Alabama happily adding more new countries to his already extensive list. Long before international travel was common, Marc saved for 2 years to take his family of 6 to Europe in 1972. The family traveled to 5 countries in 3 weeks, and it changed the lives of his 4 children forever. It opened their eyes to a bigger world and instilled in them a lifelong love of travel. Marc's weekends were often spent on Lake Hamilton. An avid boater and member of the US Power Squadron, he loved the rules of boating and was always quick to point out safety measures. He and Carolyn were extremely generous to share their lake house with their our children, their spouses and 10 grandchildren. He was proud to provide Omaha steaks for each person on every major summer holiday. He never complained about the chaos and mess resulting from having lots of kids running in and out of the lakeside sliding glass door all day long. But he did remind everyone all the time to "please shut the door behind you!" Marc was preceded in death by Carolyn Verser Oudin and his two sisters, Catherine Oudin Bellingrath and Eugenia Oudin Cook. His mother died during childbirth. His sister Catherine was at the University of Arkansas at the time and dropped out of school to come home and help care for her brother. After his sisters' marriages, Marc was raised as a brother alongside his nephews Ferd and Len Bellingrath and Stanley and Joe Cook. Marc is survived by his four children; Dora Flesher (Greg) of Little Rock, Ann Jarrel (Willis) of Tyler, Texas, Marc Oudin Jr. (Nancy) of White Hall, Mary Mann (Bill) of Memphis, Tenn. and 10 beloved grandchildren, Paxton Flesher of London, Whitney Flesher Tutor (David) of New York City, Andrew Flesher of Chicago, Catherine Jarrel Mettauer (Scott) of Houston, Grace Jarrel Huey (Hayden) of Dallas, Edouard Marc Oudin III of Little Rock, Caroline Oudin of Memphis, William Mann of Charlotte, Catherine Mann of Fayetteville and John Mann of Memphis. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 19th at 10 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. A private burial will follow. Memorials may be given to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72207. Arrangements are entrusted to Ruebel Funeral Home, sign the online condolence book at www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published January 17, 2019

Upcoming Events