1936-2025
Joe McElhanon, age 89 of North Little Rock, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. He was born in Okolona, Arkansas, on December 3, 1936, to the late Clyde H. McElhanon and Mattie Childers McEhanon. Joe graduated from Little Rock Central High School. He later attended Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University, and East Texas State University on both baseball and basketball scholarships. Joe’s entire career was spent in sales/management in the transportation/interstate commerce industry. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Little Rock. Joe was an avid golfer playing in many local and out of state Pro-Am tournaments. Joe was drafted to play baseball for the Cleveland Indians. He enjoyed his time spent on the East coast where he was a lifeguard on Daytona Beach, Florida. For many years, he was a counsellor at several juvenile detention centers in East Texas and Florida. Joe was a Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, a member of the Optimist Club of North Little Rock, a lifetime member of the BPOE Elks Club of North Little Rock, a Shriner, and was a 33rd Degree Freemason. Joe was a veteran of the United States Army where he served as a Sergeant and a state-side MP. He was the widower of the late Bettye DeVonne Faulkner McElhanon of North Little Rock.
He is survived by his son, Gregg McElhanon of Malvern; his daughter, Shelly McElhanon Rankin (Zane) of Holiday Island, AR; three grandchildren, Carson Rankin (Madeline), Matthew McElhanon, and Bridger Rankin.
Joe was also preceded in death by his brother, James (Jim) Dale McElhanon of North Little Rock.
The funeral service will be Monday morning, December 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM, in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home in Malvern, AR. A visitation will precede the service, beginning at 10:00 AM. He will be entombed at Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
