George "Sonny" McElrath, age 78 of North Little Rock, formerly of Glen Rose, died Friday night in the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born on August 6, 1930 in Conway , Arkansas to the late George Washington and Dollie Graham McElrath. Reared and educated in Faulkner and Pulaski Counties , he was a retired auto technician. Mr. McElrath worked at Teeter Motor Company in Malvern for over 25 years. He was a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in North Little Rock . Before his health began to decline, Mr. McElrath was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Henry McElrath, to whom he was married on May 10, 1951 in Benton, Arkansas; by two daughters, Dianne Walsh of Little Rock and Susan Paul and her husband, Blake of Malvern; by two brothers, Ray and his wife Sandra McElrath of Colleyville, Texas, and Lee and his wife Mary McElrath of North Little Rock; by six grandchildren, Curt McElrath, Sonny Walsh, Christina McElrath Amerson, Melanie McElrath, Caleb and Joshua Paul; by five great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.

Mr. McElrath was also preceded in death by a son, Mel McElrath, a grandson, Mel McElrath, Jr.; two brothers, Bill and Melvin Cooper; and a sister, Mebaline McCaghren.The funeral will be held at ten o'clock Thursday morning, May 7, 2009 in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Brothers Blake Paul and Tony Burrow officiating.

Interment will follow in Fairplay Cemetery .

Pallbearers will be: Curt McElrath, Caleb Paul, Joshua Paul, Jeff Cooper, John David Amerson, and Mark McElrath.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from five until seven o'clock.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.