Dorlene Falwell passed peacefully from this life into her eternal life with her Lord and Savior on Monday, October 23, 2023. She was born on February 12, 1935, in Denmark, Arkansas, the daughter of George Diego and Beatrice Mae Ransom Smith.
Dorlene’s greatest love was her family. As a child, she loved growing up with her cousins and spending time with Grandma Ransom. As an adult, she liked nothing better than having all her children and grandchildren at her house for holidays and big meals.
She graduated from Bradford High School in 1952, married her high school sweetheart, Kent Falwell, and moved to Camden, Arkansas. In 1954, they moved back to Bradford to farm, and it was where they stayed to raise their four sons.
Dorlene opened a beauty shop and worked for over 20 years while attending “the boys”. She later graduated from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro with a BSE degree and taught social studies and Driver’s Education at Bradford High School, following in her parent’s footsteps as an educator. Filled with determination and a love for learning, she continued her education, obtaining an MS degree in Library Science, and moved into the position of Bradford High School Librarian where she completed her 25 years of teaching.
Dorlene was a great cook and seamstress. She loved cooking big meals for her ever-expanding family, honoring each member of the family with their very own birthday dinner. Many times, her table featured vegetables she had preserved from her garden. Her gardening skills were not limited to vegetables, she also cultivated and grew beautiful flowers, with Irises and Day Lillies being her favorite. This work/hobby led her to become a member of the White County Day Lilly Society.
She began sewing as a teenager and made most of her school clothes. She continued to sew, and became an excellent seamstress, making beautiful clothes for herself and grandchildren. She was creative and through the years mastered several crafts, including making and dressing porcelain dolls, which led her to become a member of the Arkansas Ozark Crafts Guild, through which she sold many of her beautiful dolls. In later years, she made reproductions of Victorian lampshades and fashion jewelry. She always loved pretty things, nice things, and lasting things.
Dorlene accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at an early age and joined the Bradford Baptist Church in 1954, where she raised her sons, taught 4th grade Sunday School class for many years, chaperoned young people at church camp and enjoyed Bible Study.
Dorlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 68 years, Kent Falwell; two sons, Dr. Wade Falwell, Sr. and Barry Lynn Falwell, Sr., a grandson, Barry Lynn Falwell, Jr., two brothers, Dr. Bernard C. Smith, and Dorland Smith, three sisters, Alice Smith, Alma Guerra, and Ewilda Matchett.
Those surviving are two sons, Lendol Kent “Kenny” Falwell, Jr., and wife Carol, of Newport, George Gregory Falwell, Sr., of Bradford, two daughters-in-law, Debra Falwell of Newport, and Wila Falwell of Batesville.
Eleven grandchildren: Dr. Wade Falwell, Jr. (Autumn), of Batesville, Craig Falwell, Sr. (Alesha), and Druanne Falwell of Newport, Vanessa Adred Skelton (Jason) of Diaz, Amelia Dorlene Smith (Shane) of Newport, Greg Falwell, Jr. (Whitney), Danielle Kellems (Daniel) of Bradford, Jessica Falwell, Zach Falwell, and Shane Fortenberry of Batesville, and Stephanie Collins of Tuckerman.
Fourteen great-grandchildren: Craig Falwell, Jr., Sophie Falwell, Wade Falwell, III, Henry Falwell, George Falwell, Gracie Falwell, Canaan Falwell, Presley Falwell, Everly Falwell, Addison Kellems, Annaleigh Kellems, Hayden Kellems, Arianna Falwell, and Siler Gray Smith.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Dr. Wade Falwell, Jr., Craig Falwell, Sr., Jason Skelton, Shane Smith, Zach Falwell, Shane Fortenberry, Greg Falwell, Jr., and Daniel Kellems.
Special thanks to the House of Three and her caregivers, Jenny Slagley, Miranda Goble and Amanda Eich.
Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Bradford Baptist Church with interment at Coffeyville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time at Bradford Baptist church.
