Arel Dean Elmore, Major, USAF - Retired, 86, of North Little Rock, passed away Monday, June 10, 2024.  In addition to his parents, Dean was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Ann Fletcher Elmore; sisters, Charlene Wicker and Elizabeth Wicker and brothers, Thomas Elmore, Charles Elmore and H. Rudolph Elmore. Survivors include his children, Steven Elmore (Carolyn), Nancy Elmore and John Elmore (Caroline); three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and numerous extended family members and friends.

He was born October 23, 1937 in the town of Boughton, in the piney woods of southwestern Arkansas. Delivered at home by a county doctor to the late Noel Charles and Florence Neva Love Elmore. "Dean," as he was known to many, was the youngest of six children and was seven years younger than his closest brother. His father was killed in a logging accident when he was a young child. Naturally this affected the family and Dean immensely. Despite all the hardships, Dean was a straight "A" student in school. He played football in high school during the no face mask era. Dean was 6'-2", 210 lbs, lean and fast. He was a formidable player. His mother once said after a game that she felt sorry for all those other little boys and was worried Dean was going to hurt them.

Dean graduated Prescott High School in 1955. His future bride attended high school at the then-rival Gurdon High School. Sometime after high school, Dean joined the Arkansas Air National Guard and was working at Reynolds Aluminum while the future Mrs. Elmore was attending nursing school. They couldn't wait any longer and decided to elope. They were married in 1958. Dean said that one of the hardest things he ever had to do was face her parents after they eloped.

The couple's first son, Steven, was born in 1959. Daughter Nancy was born in January 1966, and was soon followed by son, John in December of 1966.

Dean was called up from the Guard to active duty to the USAF in 1968 due to the U.S.S. Pueblo crisis. During his military career, he was selected for officer candidate school. He attained his college degree in Business Management with a minor in accounting by attending night school. He was a communications officer for most of his career, attaining the rank of Major. During his career, he had assignments at Biloxi, MS (twice), Sembach Germany, Langley AFB, VA, Osan South Korea, Camp Red Cloud South Korea, Richards Gebaur AFB, MO, with his last duty station at LRAFB before retirement.

After retiring from the service in 1986, Dean became director of the Arkansas Food Bank Network for several years. He then took the position of Director of the Second Harvest Food Bank in Springfield, MO. Being a child of the great depression, he wanted to work helping the less fortunate and found a way to help many people through his second career. He and Ruth lived in Springfield for several years where they enjoyed going to the shows in Branson. They also loved being close to Steven and his family who lived outside Kansas City.

Dean retired again and returned to Jacksonville for a few years to enjoy life as a retiree and be close to family in Arkansas. Dean and Ruth then moved to Cabot in 2005 where they resided together until Ruth passed away in 2014. Dean moved to North Little Rock in 2017 to be closer to family, where he resided until his final illness.

Dean loved to garden and grew roses, many types of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Birdwatching was also a hobby, and he could perform bird calls of many various species. He loved to run for fitness. He said when they were young, they called it "dog-trotting". He said he could dog-trot all the way to one of his friend's house that was several miles away without stopping. During his career and after retiring he could often be found at the LRAFB gym getting in a workout and a light jog.

One of his greatest joys was being a grandfather and great-grandfather. He was known as "Poppa Dean" to his great grandsons.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2024 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home.  Interment will be 12:00 p.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to the Arkansas Food Bank.