Dr. Lester Milam Stizes

Dr. Lester Milam Sitzes Jr. of Hope passed away into the arms of his Lord Saturday, March 24th 2012 in the Heart Hospital in Little Rock. He was born March 4th, 1930 in Beirne, Arkansas to Lester Milam Sitzes Sr. and Myrtle Wooldridge Sitzes. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Erselle , his wife of 55 years Barbara Ann Sitzes and his daughter-in-law Cathy Sitzes. Dr. Sitzes graduated from Gurdon High School and then attended Ouachita Baptist College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree at Baylor University. He completed his studies at St. Louis College of Dentistry in 1956 and entered the United States Air Force serving as a Captain stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.While in dental school Dr. Sitzes married his high school sweetheart from Richwoods Barbara Ann Smith. They had one son Lester III during the last year of dental school and twin sons Donald and David in Alabama during Dr. Sitzes' tour of duty. Dr. Sitzes and family then returned home to Gurdon to practice dentistry. In March 1963 Dr. Sitzes moved his practice to Hope. For the next 28 years he served the area full time and another four on a part time basis.Dr. Sitzes and his family joined the First Baptist Church in 1963 and have been members to this day. He served as the assistant and interim song director of the church for many years. Dr. Sitzes served on the Hope City Board, was president of the Gurdon and Hope Chamber of Commerces and the Rotary Clubs. He was a member of the Arkansas State Dental Association Executive Board and was the State President in 1972-73.He was the secretary-treasurer and the president of the Southwest Arkansas Dental Society, The Texarkana Dental Society and the Ark-La-Tex Dental Association. He was a selected member of the Delta Sigma Delta dental Fraternity, the Pierce Fauchard Society, The American College of Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry. He was the Founding President of the Arkansas State Dental Association Political Action Committee. Dr. Sitzes was appointed by Governor Wintrop Rockefeller to serve on the Arkansas Governmental Efficiency Study Commission and by Governor David Pryor to serve on the Arkansas State Health Coordinating Council eventually serving as President of the Council. He was a long standing member of the First National Bank Board of Directors advising his good friend Tom Ed Hays Jr. Dr. Sitzes was an avid fisherman, outdoorsman and tree farmer. He and his wife Barbara were long time supporters of the Boy Scouts in Hope and Governor Mike Huckabee. He is survived by his sons Dr. Lester Sitzes, III and Marilyn of Hope, Dr. Donald Sitzes and Denise of Nashville, Arkansas and Dr. David Sitzes and Rhonda of Bella Vista, Arkansas. He leaves nine grandchildren: Dr. April Brown of Boerne, Texas; Jessica Jungerman of Nashville; John Sitzes of Hope; Bryan Sitzes of Fayetteville; Drew Sitzes of Russellville; Evan Sitzes of Osaka, Japan; Jordan Sitzes of Mineral Springs; Jenae Sitzes of Bella Vista and Tristan Sitzes of Hope. He also is survived by three great-grandchildren: Wesley and Landon Jungerman of Nashville and John David Sitzes of Mineral Springs. Visitation with the family will be Monday evening, March 26, 2012 at the Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home in Hope from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Hope. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family wishes for memorials to be made to the Boy Scout Troop 5 building fund or First Baptist Church of Hope. Sign our online register book at www.pharrfuneralhomes.com.