of Jacksonville, AR
October 10, 1934 - May 28, 2023
Charles Edward Venus died on May 28, 2023 at the age
of 88 years. He was preceded in death by parents
William David Venus and Mary Elizabeth Rednour Venus,
grandparents, brother, two sisters, wife Bessie Marlene
Culpepper Venus, son Charles E. Venus, Jr., daughter,
Dana Natalie Venus Hoover, and great grandson Asher Barber.
He is survived by his sister, Donna Sue Venus Green,
of Miami, Fl., daughter in law Victoria Jo Peterson Venus
and granddaughters, Andrea Venus Barber and husband Tyler Barber,
and Sydney Venus; great granddaughter Kinsley Jo Barber and
great grandson Waylon Charles Barber, son in law Troy Hoover;
grandson Troy Hoover Jr.; and granddaughters Sarah Hoover
and Taylor Hoover; and daughter Stacy Lea Venus Furr
and husband Wayne Furr; step-grand-daughter Morgan Furr
Coulter and husband Caleb Coulter; step great-grand-daughters
Emma Joe Coulter, Harper James Coulter and Kimber Jay Coulter;
and step-grand-son Jordon Furr.
He grew up in Louisville, Ky., where he enlisted
in the United States Air Force (1952-1956), and
was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Illinois,
Japan, The Philippines, and Wyoming. He was
trained in Cryptography.
He was honorably discharged in 1956; married
Bessie Marlene Culpepper of Pine Bluff, and registered
at Arkansas A&M College, Monticello, where he
obtained a BA degree in business administration in
1959; attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
and received an MBA in business administration, also
in 1959. He taught at the University at Fayetteville from
1959 until 1962, and received a PhD in business
administration in 1964.
In 1962 he was employed by the University at the Industrial
Research and Extension Center in Little Rock where he
conducted economic development research until 1973.
From 1973 to the present he was a self-employed
consulting economist. He had many, many clients, and
wonderful friends. He served on the Arkansas Governor's
Council of Economic Advisors for every governor since the
Council was started by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, and
drafted the Arkansas tax revision plan for Governor Bumpers.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 2, 2023, at 7:00 PM, at Roller-Owens Funeral Home in North Little Rock. A visitation will be held before the service from 5:00-7:00 PM.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at Memorial Park Cemetery in White Hall, Arkansas.
This is especially for Stacey and Vicki, so sorry for your loss. I think of all the fun times that John and I had with your family. So many wonderful memories. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Dr. Venus was an extraordinary man with whom I had many adventures. As a trial lawyer, and in the 1970’s, I first retained Dr. Venus as an expert witness in one of my cases. He complimented me when we won, saying, “You performed brilliantly — when you hired me!†And it was like that in all the years since (and his quoted assessment was actually correct).
He was a heavyweight fighter in a middle-weight physique, very analytical in his field of economics, but solidly traditional in his unwavering love of his wife and family, with children and grandchildren now blessed with an extraordinary heritage.
And, otherwise, “What Clark Mason said!â€
David M. Hargis
Lots of good memories. Enjoyed working with you and your friendship.
You will be missed. RIP
You will be missed, my dear friend. I always valued your keen insight, your remarkable intellect, your wit, and your exceptional ability to explain even the most complex issues with clarity and certainty. Yet of all the above, most of all I valued your friendship and counsel over the past 30 plus years. Rest in peace, Charlie. And thank you for all the wonderful memories we shared.
Family: We are so sorry for your loss. Charles and Marlene were such an interesting family when there was any Culpepper-Stone reunions or other visits.
May God be with you all. Pam Stone Ratliff
Dr. Venus had great intellect, and a sharp wit. He was an incredibly insightful and entertaining speaker with the ability to simplify the complex. I first met him in the early 1990s and became fast friends with both him and Marlene. He always accommodated my invitations to speak, and was a crowd favorite. I learned a lot from him. I will miss him, but remember him always as a loyal friend.