Published: April 10, 2017

Charles Alexander Dietz, age 74, passed away at his beloved home on Eden Isle on April 7, 2017. Alex was born Dec. 5, 1942, in Little Rock, Ark. to Charley and Aileen Alexander Dietz. A graduate of Little Rock's Hall High, he earned an electrical engineering degree from Tulane University, then served in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam, before going to work for IBM. In 1969, he went to work for a little company in Conway, Ark., called Demographics, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Alex was soon joined by his former IBM colleague and motocross racing friend, Charles Morgan, and they were later joined by friends and IBM colleagues Rodger Kline and Jim Womble. The four of them were largely responsible for building and leading the team that elevated Acxiom, Inc. from a company of 25 employees in a single building to a worldwide leader in data and database management, which at its height employed 7,000 people in 15 countries. Alex retired in 2011 after 42 years at Acxiom, where he served on the Senior Leadership Team in many different roles. Alex's life and career impacted thousands of families in Arkansas and today dozens of companies in Arkansas have been started and are led by people who worked at Acxiom.

Alex was a kind, generous and thoughtful man who touched thousands of lives personally and professionally. If you were around Alex for very long, you would hear him say how lucky he was and how he marveled at his incredible life. All who knew Alex are better for the experience. He was equally humble and gracious and he possessed a wicked sense of humor. Alex had a deep love for family and friends, and he lived life to the fullest. His spare time was spent riding his motorcycle, snow skiing, scuba diving, boating on any beautiful body of water, working on his model train, enjoying the beauty and tranquility of Eden Isle and Greers Ferry Lake, and he recently had been enjoying working with his son Donnie. Most of all, he just simply enjoyed spending time with his wife, his children, grandchildren and friends.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Donald William Dietz (Donnie). Alex is survived by his wife of 22 years, Lee Ann; his son, Donald William Dietz II (Donnie) of Conway; a daughter, Krystal Meins (husband Chad) of Deridder, La.; and a special niece he considered another daughter, Rachel Gunnell (boyfriend Jacob Smith) of Conway. He leaves three grandsons, Ethan Alexander Dietz, Donald William Dietz III (Trey) and James Kyle Ackerson II (Deuce); and a special sister-in-law, Ruth Dietz Shepherd (Steve) of Little Rock; and his constant and beloved four-legged companions, Toby and PeeDee.

All friends and family are invited to a celebration of Alex's life at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11 at the Red Apple Inn on beautiful Eden Isle, a place Alex enjoyed immensely. In keeping with his wonderfully lived life, ties are absolutely discouraged!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please make a contribution to the Humane Society or a pet rescue organization of your choice. www.olmstead.cc.