Edmund Archie Stoddard III

Edmund Archie Stoddard III, 72, Bryant, AR, stepped into the presence of our Lord Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at his home surrounded by his family after an extended illness. He was born on April 22, 1937, in Independence to Edmund Archie Stoddard II and Mildred Leta Reynolds Stoddard.

Bud, as he was known to his family, was the oldest of three children. He attended school in Independence and Walker. He graduated at Geronimo, OK. He attended both William Jewell College in Liberty and Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. He received both a Bachelor and Masters while attending PSU.

Bud’s family was of humble means which necessitated the learning of many agricultural and carpentry skills. Later, the use of those skills brought him joy in the raising of gardens and repairing of family furniture and doing electrical work with a fellow deacon.

While in junior high, Bud’s family lived near Walker. During this time, he met his soul mate, Earline Hallam. Years later, Ed would pastor Oak Grove where the Hallam family attended. As time passed, with the helpful interventions of both of their mothers, the two began to date and eventually wed. Edmund and Earline were married in 1963 and set up house in Nevada. To their union was born four children, all of which they had the opportunity to lead to the Lord.

Edmund was saved under the pastorate of his father. He later surrendered to pastoral ministry, following in his father’s footsteps. Edmund served as pastor in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Wyoming. He also served as a revival evangelist to Alaska, Utah, Michigan and North Dakota through the North American Mission Board. Bro. Ed retired from fulltime pastoral ministry while pasturing First Baptist Church in Alexander. Most recently, he retired from the Arkansas State Hospital Adolescent Unit. Edmund, also worked as a hospital chaplain, a public school teacher as well as an adjunct professor for Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, AR. He served as pastor in Tiffin in the early 1960s and he taught in Walker and El Dorado Springs in the mid 1960s.

Bro. Ed had the opportunity to travel to Israel to see the Holy Land and was able to teach/preach on a mission trip to China.
Edmund was a member of Geyer Springs Baptist Church where he attended the Early Adult Coed Sunday School class and worked with Earline as an AWANA Listener. He loved to study the Word of God, reading through the Bible every year. Edmund also studied about herbs and natural therapies in his spare time. In addition, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Sarah; one brother, Victor; and a nephew, Kenton Tyler.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Earline Hallam Stoddard – Bryant; four children – Ellen and Ron Boling – Newport, AR, Andy Stoddard – Conway Human Development Center – Conway, AR, Charles and Denise Stoddard – Paragould, AR, and Chad and Vicki Stoddard – Marked Tree, AR; nine grandchildren – Maeria, Michael, Ayden and AJ Boling, Noah, Elizabeth and Kaitlyn Stoddard and Andrew and Abby Stoddard; as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of friends and loved ones who mourn his passing.