of West Helena, AR
February 13, 1939 - March 3, 2014
William H. ''Doc'' Gastrock, age 75, of West Helena, Arkansas passed away Monday, March 3, 2014 at his home. Mr. Gastrock was born February 13, 1939 at New Orleans, Louisiana to the late Henry Gastrock and the late Fadrey Morgan Gastrock.
He graduated college from LSU and received his PhD from Kansas State. Mr. Gastrock's first job was as a chemist for Cyanamid in New Jersey. Longing to return to his Southern roots, he took a job with Cedar Chemical in Vicksburg, Mississippi and was transferred to Helena in 1989. He retired from Cedar Chemical in 2002.
After retirement, he enjoyed gardening, making homemade salsa, traveling, cooking and spending time with his grandchildren. William was also an avid LSU fan.
He is survived by a son, Kurt Gastrock of Fayetteville, Arkansas; a daughter, Anne Hale of League City, Texas; two grandchildren, Lyndsey Privett and James Hale, both of League City; and a brother, Robert Gatrock and wife, Barbara, of Columbia, Maryland.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Jacquelyn Ryals Gastrock.
A memorial service for William H. ''Doc'' Gastrock will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home.
Service will be directed by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena, (870) 572-2571.
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27 Condolence(s)
Winton D. Jones
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Bill was a great guy and although I haven't talked with him or seen him in years he was a great help to me when we were graduate students at Kansas U. I was greatly saddened by his passing.
brian & rita
Monday, March 10, 2014
doc we love yu & miss Jackie I am so thankful for all the great joys & fellowship that we had all these's years just want to say your so special & thankful for last month when yu were in Fayetteville & our little get together with yu & kurt at blake-o's house with our familes we had so many laugh's & great fellowship that was so special , krut & ann ya are in our thoughts we love yu both love ketchum's from fayetteville
Lona Bryant
Monday, March 10, 2014
Doc was a good man, he will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Joel Walker
Monday, March 10, 2014
God be with you in this times of sorrow. He had a great and fulfilling life knowing so many family and friends that loved him dearly. I'm privileged to have worked with Doc so close at work and after with his communication needs. I will miss that smile and warm heart that he so freely gave to all he knew. Thanks for all the memories .
Kurt/Ann you had one of a kind Dad that loved you so and talked of you with a kind heart and proud family ties. He missed your Mom so.
Al Cevasco
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Bill was a great guy and an excellent chemist. We worked together in Process Development at American Cyanamid in Princeton NJ beginning in 1975. We kept in touch via Christmas letters. He will be missed. As the messages above state, he never had a bad word to say about people. RIP Bill!
Poss and Linda Fernicola
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Doc was like a brother to me. He always had salsa waiting for me when I came to see him. I will miss him greatly. He never said a bad thing about anyone. He was a great guy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
George James
Saturday, March 8, 2014
So sorry to hear of Doc's passing. He will be missed. May you hold only sweet memories of him in your heart.
Steve Jones
Saturday, March 8, 2014
One of the finest men One of the finest men that I had the pleasure to meet and work with. He will truly be missed by all. Thoughts and prayers be with you.
Wendel Nelson
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Kurt and Anne,
i knew your parents at KU, when Bill and I were both graduate students, and later we visited you and your parents in New Jersey, when our kids were your age. I'm sure you don't remember. Bill and Jackie were great friends who made these times very memorable. i will always remember them with great affection. it's been a long time since we got together, although keeping track of your family through Ron has kept me loosely connected. I hope the memories you have of your parents are of comfort to you at this time.
Greg and Marsha Satterfield
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Anne and Kurt
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
As we pass through this life, we sometimes meet someone so special, so unique that they make impressions that last a lifetime. I was lucky. I met one of those people. He was your dad. For many years I had the privilege of seeing him every day. I enjoyed being around him, he just lifted my spirits when I was down. He was always fun and always encouraging. I will miss him greatly.
Byron Hale
Saturday, March 8, 2014
With my deepest sympathies to Anne and Kurt. Thank you Bill for the memories. I will never forget how Bill took the shortest route to get to the other side of the highway. May You and Jacque be rejoined and smile down upon us.
Love,
Byron
Chris Worstell
Friday, March 7, 2014
"Doc" Bill was one of the finest people I have ever known or worked around.His warm smile, positive attitude, and great sense of humor will be missed by all that knew him. I'm sorry for your loss.
Greg Predmore
Friday, March 7, 2014
My deepest sympathies to the Gastrock family. I was fortunate enough to work with Doc Bill at Cedar Chemical. I remember his great sense of humor and quick wit. He was a great man and he will be missed.
Greg Predmore
Becky Farmer
Friday, March 7, 2014
So very saddened to hear of Bill's passing.
He had a heart as big as he was tall! My mom and dad spent many hours on the road with him as he drove them to Memphis and Little Rock for doctor appointments. He would sit in the waiting room with whichever parent was not seeing the doctor for as long as it took...sometimes for hours if testing needed to be done. They grew so fond of him. He was such a gentle soul and his soul has joined his wonderful wife's in heaven. Prayers for the family. You are fortunate to have been such a major part of his life.
Russell
Friday, March 7, 2014
I have never known of anyone that had ever met Doc not liking him. And for those of us fortunate to have worked, fished, hunted with and/or were friends with him, I don’t think love is too strong a word to use to describe the sentiment. Doc was a friend no matter who you were or what your station in life was or what your position was at the chemical plant. He always made you feel good and he always had something to laugh about. Faith and I send our condolences to Kurt and Anne, I know he loved you both dearly. To Doc, God love you, peace and joy to you forever. I was fortunate beyond words to have known you.
Don Warren & State Farm Family
Friday, March 7, 2014
Mr. Gastrock was a nice & gentle person. He was a joy coming into the office. He will be truly missed! May God Bless your family!
Cynthia Sims
Lakeisha Smith
Michael Butler
Kelvin & Cynthia Sims
Friday, March 7, 2014
Our hearts are so burdened to hear of "Doc" (Dad) not being here. We will miss him so much and that Gentle Giant smile. Please take comfort in knowing that his Soul is resting. May God Bless the entire Family! (Kelvin Sims Ex co-worker from Cedar Chemical).
Dale & Melanie Kummer
Friday, March 7, 2014
Anne and Kirk,
We were so sorry to hear about your Dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Michelle Hallum Gregory
Friday, March 7, 2014
Anne im so sorry for your loss May God Be with You your in my thoughts and prayers. Larry and Michelle Gregory
Hunter Bryant
Friday, March 7, 2014
Doc was one of the kindest men that I have ever met. He will be greatly missed by myself and many others.
Bonnie Wagner
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Dear Kurt and Anne,
I'm sure you remember me as I will never forget your family. Your Mom and Dad were the best next door neighbors I could have. My thoughts and prayers go with you at this sad time. Your Dad was a sweet, caring man who never had an unkind word for anyone.
I remember winning the lottery for about $500 and your Dad said, "You are so lucky. That never happens to me." I said "How often do you play the lottery?" and he said "Oh, I never buy lottery tickets!!!" We had some good times with your family. He used to toss a baseball with Kurt on my lawn because he didn't want to ruin his grass! And what a beautiful lawn he had.
The only sense of this sadness is that your Mom and Dad are together now. You were so lucky to have them as parents. Remember the good times and how much they loved you.
Bonnie Wagner
25 Brooktree Rd
Pat Hardy
Thursday, March 6, 2014
To His Family.
He was always so pleasant and friendly no matter where you saw him.
May God be with you during your sad times.
Stanley Bernard
Thursday, March 6, 2014
So sorry and shocked to learn Bill passed away. I often think of the times we spent together at Cedar Chemical. He was a wonderful person and a great chemist. He will certainly be missed.
Sandy Owens
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Anne and family, I was so sorry to hear this news. He was a wonderful sweet man and will be missed dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ricky McLendon
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wow - Where can I start. What a great man. Doc was one of my best friends. He came up to see me about 3 weeks ago and I got him eggs. We spent the day together and he was talking about coming back to see me in about 4 weeks. I am so sad to lose such a special guy. He would carry my dad to Memphis when he was sick becuse I wasn't there to help him. My heart is deeply sadened. I will miss him so much. One of his favaorite sentences was "Awwww c'mon Macker!!!!
Trish Hunter
Thursday, March 6, 2014
You are in my thoughts & prayers.
This news really breaks my heart.
They are together, again.
Be strong & know that you are thought of often.
James & Melissa
Thursday, March 6, 2014
You are in our eternal thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
James, Melissa and Mia Bowen