1928-2026
Ethel Elise Smart Dunklin, age 97, died on March 31, 2026 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Born in Pine Bluff on July 30, 1928, Mrs. Dunklin was the third child and only daughter of Felix G. Smart III and Elise Moore Smart. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Richard Lee “Bubba” Smart and Felix G. Smart IV, and her husband of 62 years, William H. Dunklin, Sr.
Mrs. Dunklin attended Pine Bluff schools through her 10th grade year. She graduated from high school at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. Mrs. Dunklin attended Chevy Chase Junior College in Maryland where she was Queen of the May. She later received her bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she was a member of the Pi Phi Sorority.
Mrs. Dunklin was a member of the Junior League of Pine Bluff and a volunteer at The Sunshine School. She also volunteered at the Little Firehouse Community Art Center. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years. In the 1960’s, she was Queen of the Charity Ball in Pine Bluff, a fundraiser for local charities.
Mrs. Dunklin was an artist and had a love for interior design. She was also athletic, playing golf in her younger years and later tennis until she was 75 years old. Her other hobbies included needlepointing. She needlepointed one of the dining room chair seats for the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.
Mrs. Dunklin is survived by her four children –Dabney Dunklin Pelton (Tom), Elise Dunklin Eiken, William H. Dunklin, Jr., and Philip Dunklin, ten grandchildren – William H. Dunklin III (Allison), Sarah Dunklin (Allen Petty), Hailey Pelton Easley (Seth), Hudson Harris, Alex Dunklin, Colin Pelton (Meredith), Laurel Pelton Davenport (Corey), I.S. Dunklin (Hilary), Chandler Dunklin (Mary), Sloane Dunklin Holzhauer (Collin), and twenty great grandchildren - Austin Easley, Parker Easley, Turner Easley, Elise Chatham, Holden Holzhauer, Walker Harris, Anders Harris, William Davenport, James Monroe Davenport, Griffin Dunklin, William H. Dunklin IV, Wells Dunklin, Charlotte Dunklin, Margo Dunklin, George Pelton, Jane Thomas Pelton, Fischer Pelton, Sanford Dunklin, James Dunklin, and Whit Dunklin. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Jane Smart Johnston (Billy), Felix G. Smart V (Tere), Lee Smart (Laura), Roger Smart (Julie), Deborah Tipton, Bryan Dunklin, George Dunklin, and Margaret Dunklin.
Funeral services will be private by Ralph Robinson & Son of Pine Bluff.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Community Foundation designated for the William H. Dunklin Sr. Endowment, a fund supporting the operations of the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, 5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110, Little Rock, AR 72202. Memorials may also be made to Lyon College designated for the William H. and Ethel Smart Dunklin Endowed Scholarship, P.O. Box 2317, Batesville, AR 72503.
