Charles E. Hallmann

Charles E. Hallmann, 92, of Benton, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007.

He was born March 30, 1915, in Chicago to Minnie and Emil Hallmann.

His wife of 59 years, Virginia Schneider Hallmann, and two sisters, Esther Hallmann and June Olive, preceded him in death.

He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Carl Halford of Cordova, Tenn., and Nancy and J. R. Mathews of Nags Head, N.C.; four grandsons, Steve and Scott Halford and Rob and Dan Carraway; three great-grandsons, Wade, Tyler, and Josh Halford; and one sister, Elizabeth Muzzio of Pueblo, Colo.

He came to Arkansas in January 1947, to supervise building and startup of a new plant in Little Rock. He retired after 35 years of service and started a second career, lasting eight years, as a consulting engineer. He was a registered professional electrical engineer and served as chairman of the Arkansas Section of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1962.

He was a member of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the American Institute of Plant Engineers.

He was a member of the Crescent Masonic Lodge in North Little Rock for more than 50 years and was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner.

He was a member of Fairplay Baptist Church and served as chairman of the building committee.

His hobbies included reading and growing orchids.

He was a Saline County Master Gardener and a member of the American Orchid Society and the Arkansas Orchid Society. He had more than 300 orchids growing in a glass greenhouse attached to his carport.

Funeral services were Saturday, Nov. 17 in the chapel of Roller-Ballard with interment following in Fairplay Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to the Saline County Library, the Arkansas Hospice, or the Hospice Center at Saint Vincent's Infirmary Medical Center.