of Mount Vernon, AR

November 7, 1930 - February 15, 2025

Ima Ruth Poczik, 94, of Mount Vernon, Arkansas passed away peacefully at home Saturday, February 15, 2025.

She was born on November 7, 1930 in Enola, Arkansas to the late Henry Clay Gardner and Clarice Amy (Sublett) Gardner.

Ima Ruth definitely led a full life in her 94 years. Starting in rural Faulkner County and ending in rural Faulkner County, but oh what a life in between.

Ima Ruth met and married Vince Poczik in South Bend, Indiana. He was a factory worker and she worked in a large grocery store. They enjoyed their time off sailing on Lake Michigan. Their boat, The Whalen, was to be later an instrument of adventure. And what an adventure it would be.

After retiring, Vince decided to fulfill his dream of sailing around the world. Ima Ruth, who couldn't swim, stayed home and would later go to South Africa to meet him. Eight years later.

They sailed the Walen from South Africa to The Gulf of Mexico. Then, they went back to South Africa and sailed a friend's boat back to the Gulf. Ima Ruth often mentioned different encounters and experiences they had during those sailing days.

Later they would both be employed on a crew boat, taking off shore oil rig workers back and forth to the rigs. Vince was Captain and Ima Ruth was galley cook. Ima Ruth took pride in keeping the crew and the rig workers well fed.

Ima Ruth spent a large portion of her life in the food service industry. Whether it was at the old I-40 truck stop in Conway, The Rose Bud Café or the Jim Dandy in Rose Bud, she enjoyed feeding people and was very good at it.

Ima Ruth was an important part of the lives of so many people. From patrons of restaurants to family, everyone knew they could rely on her to meet their needs. Family gatherings at holidays, birthdays and weddings were always times Ima Ruth would enjoy. She loved her family and friends and they all knew it because she showed it.

Ima Ruth was a Christian who loved God with all her heart and she loved her neighbors as herself. She was a member of North Oak Church of Christ in Mount Vernon. She loved her family and would always encourage them to build a true relationship with God. She was an example of what a Christian should be, loving, caring, giving, compassionate, sympathetic and truthful.

The family and friends of Ima Ruth will indeed miss her but can find peace in the fact that she is singing with Heaven's Angels, she has felt the Hand of God on her shoulder, and heard him say, ''Well done my good and faithful servant.''

Ima Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vincent A Poczik; son, Alan Poczik; great-grandson, Vincent Cody Poczik and brothers, Don Gardner and Ned Gardner.

She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Vincent Wayne Poczik, Sr. (Debra); daughter-in-law, Carol Poczik; her grandchildren, Vincent Wayne Poczik, Jr (Lisa), Jennifer Lynn Schoof (David), Katrina Smith and Laura Poczik; 10 great-grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway at 11:00am with Michael Ball officiating. Visitation will start at 10:00am, one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.

Online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway

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