Wesley Walden Hargis

March 10, 1915 -- May 28, 1999

First cousin to my father - Walter James "Jim" Stephenson

 

Wesley Walden Hargis, died May 28, 1999

Posted by Gloria Bronte Lane <gblane@aristotle.net> on Sun, 30 May 1999
Surname: Hargis, Robertson, Adams, Griffin
(from Ark. Democrat-Gazette, May 30, 1999)

WESLEY WALDEN HARGIS, age 84, or Little Rock died May 28, 1999. Born in McCrory, Ark., Mr. Hargis graduated from Kensett High School before graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in chemistry. After serving in the army during World War II, he returned to Arkansas, and prior to receiving his master's degree in bacteriology from the University of Arkansas, he taught high school science and mathematics and worked for the Arkansas State Education Departmentin Veterans On the Job Training Program.

While in graduate school, he was employed by the university's Dept. of Botany and Bacteriology as a research assistant for one year, studying the effect of a carcinogen on the morphology of bacterial cells grown in the media containing the carcinogen.

In 1955, he was employed at the biological center of the Pine Bluff Arsenal as a biological control microbiologist. His duties included quality and production control for the biological plant fermentation, concentration and drying operations, development of seed and inoculum procedures, microbial variation studies, genetics and environmental and problems related to production of improved seed cultures for plant scale-up. His responsibilities also included work within aerobiology and studies related to virulence of microbiological pathogens for laboratory test animals and serology of laboratory test animals exposed to toxic bacteria.

He was a hard worker dedicated to his field of research and also enjoyed his leisure time by hunting and fishing. He was also known for his ability to fix anything and enjoyed collecting classical music and old radios, as well as the special friendships he had with the residents and those who worked at Shepherd'sCove.

Wesley is survived by two nieces, Connie Robertson and her husband, Jack, of West Virginia, Diane Currie of San Antonio, Texas; four nephews: Jimmy M. Adams and his wife, Joan, of Little Rock, Royce Griffin and his wife, Brenda, of Little Rock, Henry Hargis and his wife, Betty, of Conway, and Wesley Steve Hargis of Pine Bluff.

There will be a funeral service Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Ruebel Funeral Home, followed by a private burial in McCrory. Memorials may be made to the Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center, Shepherd's Cove.