John Edward Chiles

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Visitation Schedule
First United Methodist Church
723 Center Street
Little Rock, AR  72201
Saturday, October 22, 2016
3:00 P.M.
Service Schedule
First United Methodist Church
723 Center Street
Little Rock, AR  72201
Saturday, October 22, 2016
4:00 P.M.
Cemetery
Bassett Cemetery
Bassett, AR  
John Edward Chiles

of Little Rock, AR

April 30, 1925 - October 19, 2016

John Edward Chiles, 91, of Little Rock passed away on October 19, 2016.

John Ed was born April 30, 1925, at Pecan Point, Mississippi County, Arkansas, to Avie E. and Emmett B. Chiles Sr. After graduating from the Arkansas School for the Blind in 1943, he earned a bachelor's degree from Hendrix College and a master's degree from Vanderbilt University, both in history and political science. He worked at the Arkansas School for the Blind for 37 years as a teacher and administrator.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Virginia McMillian and Sarah Hornsby; and two brothers, Emmett B. Chiles Jr. and Harry L. Chiles. He is survived by nephew Ronald L. Chiles of Minot, North Dakota; nephew Will S. Hornsby and wife, Kathy, of Metairie, Louisiana; niece Carolyn Nelson of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; niece-in-law Judi Chiles of Little Rock; great-nephew Emmett B. Chiles IV and wife, Jonann, of Little Rock; and great-nieces Nicole Navarro of Opelousas, Louisiana, Leigh M. Chiles of Memphis, Tennessee, and Ashley Hornsby of Metairie, Louisiana. Additionally, very special friends include Dr. Matt and Kristin Jackson, Paul and Sharyl Cheek, Leonard and Susan Ogburn, and Roy and Carolyn Nash.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 3:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, with a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place earlier at Bassett Cemetery in Bassett, Arkansas. Arrangements are by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home of Little Rock.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Avie E. and Emmett B. Chiles Scholarship Fund at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, or First United Methodist Church of Little Rock.

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5 Condolence(s)
Lucy and Terry DuBose
Austin, TX
Liked
Tuesday, November 1, 2016

John Ed was our neighbor for 16 years, and helped us to understand and love Arkansas and Little Rock. He was a wealth of knowledge about the state and little known facts. We had great conversations in the rockers on the front porch, John Ed with his gin & tonic, Lucy with a wine, and me with a bourbon. We talked by phone every Sunday afternoon after we moved back to Austin Tx in 2010, until he could no longer carry on a conversation on the phone. He was loved and is missed.
Peace, Lucy and Terry

Dave Wilkinson
Louisville, KY
Liked
Monday, October 24, 2016

Mr. Chiles had a profound impact on my life. As my teacher he encouraged me to be curious, inquisitive, and thirsty for knowledge. As a person he demonstrated by the way he lived his life that there was nothing extraordinary about being a successful blind adult. It was just what he expected and that was the most valuable thing he taught me.

Glen Acre
Maumelle, AR
Liked
Saturday, October 22, 2016

I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know John Ed at the
UAMS "Gym for seniors", I learned a lot about St. Louis Cardinals baseball from him. He was very versed on every aspect of the finer points of Baseball strategy. I will miss those conversations.

I regret that John Ed was unable to ride in our new Corvette, I had taken Him on rides in our previous two when they were new and I know he like the power and feel of a performance car. I know today that John Ed is most likely talking baseball with Stan or Babe, and probably arrived in a new Corvette !

Sharon Niemczyk
Bauxite, AR
Liked
Friday, October 21, 2016

He was a sweet man. He personified the skills, independence and dignity that we as educators strive to teach our children.

Joetta Duke
North Little Rock, AR
Liked
Thursday, October 20, 2016

I am so very saddened to hear of the death of our wonderful friend, John Edward. His classroom, at the Arkansas School for the Blind, was located outside my office, and we were able to bond together as Hendrix alumni as well. He was the epitome of a true gentleman, a scholar, a Southern Gentleman, and a lover of elegant things in life. It was always such fun to discuss these things with him and to see his excitement. Sharing 28 years at work with him was a true joy and made my life better in the process. He will be missed by all who knew him, and I would bet that he's organizing Heaven as we speak.