James "Jimmy"F. Ford, 71, of Fayetteville died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, at his home. He was born Feb. 15, 1937, in Russell County, Ala., the son of Henry and Frances Herring Ford. After receiving a Ph. D. in linguistics at Ohio State University, he continued his career as a professor of foreign language at the University of Arkansas. He taught language and linguistics and served as chairman of the department for 10 years before retiring in 1998. He was an accomplished songwriter and musician and had written and performed for many years throughout the country. He was a member of First United Presbyterian Church and a U. S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He is sur vived by his wife, Mary W. Ford; a son, James "Beau"Francis Ford Jr. of Denver; three daughters, Felecia Bella Faro of Fayetteville, Jennifer Kaye Chontos of Alexandria, Va., and Dory Rebekah Sibley of Arezzo, Italy; a sister, Phyllis Anglin of Como, Miss.; two grandchildren, Joshua James Rector and Samuel Ford Chontos; two Bruncles, Donald Herring of Deadeville, Ala., and Robert Herring of Prattville, Ala.; and an aunt, Nina Jones of Easley, S. C. Jimmy was loved by a host of family and friends and would love to hear from you all. Services will be announced at a later date. Cremation was by Moore's Chapel of Fayetteville. To sign the online guest book go to www. mooresfuneralchapel. com.
Transitions: Associate Professor Irene Bergal
The University of Arkansas community lost long-time faculty colleague Irene Bergal to cancer on Saturday, July 19. She was born Feb. 10, 1929, in Bethal, Conn., to Albert Couillard and Lula Stone.
Dr. Bergal (MA Middlebury, PhD Univ. of Minnesota-Minneapolis) served on the faculty of the Department of Foreign Languages for 27 years before her retirement as emerita associate professor in 1993. A scholar of 17th century French literature, Prof. Bergal worked extensively with emblems within the broader context of early didactic literature. Her work was honored with NEH grants for research at Harvard and the University of Illinois-Urbana, but she especially treasured her year as Fulbright College Visiting Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, and a sabbatical spent in Glasgow, Scotland, where she participated in the International Conference on European Emblems.
Upon her retirement she derived much satisfaction from her active participation in the Orchid Society of the Ozarks, from her beloved cats Max and Mozart, as well as from such travel as her health permitted. A recent high point for her was full participation in the OSO’s regional SWROGA orchid show. Despite her illness she remained a bright and spirited presence to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by a circle of former colleagues and students, as well as by friends, fellow orchid growers, and traveling companions from the greater community.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Seven Hills Homeless Center.
At Dr. Bergel’s request no memorial service will be held.
FLAN Department Secretary Lea Ellen Dunlap
Lea Ellen Dunlap, age 49, of Harrison, passed away Tuesday in Little Rock, survived by herhusband, Robert; sisters, Pam and Marti; brothers, Wade and Wayne; and father, Doyle Bailey.
Those of you who knew her will remember Lea Ellen as a very dear person. She had been sick with Crohn's disease, which became acute last January, followed by kidney failure.
Our sympathies are with her husband Robert and with Lea Ellen's family.
