Joe Landers

Joe Philip Landers, 81, passed away on January 20 in the home he built in Little Rock. He was born May 1, 1933, to Elbert and Katie Puterbaugh Landers, in the Ouachita County community of Buena Vista. Preceded in death by his parents and son Joe Philip Landers Jr., he is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Frances Ruth Day Landers; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Jeffery Heltz and Anna and Edward Swaim, all of Little Rock; grandchildren and spouses Dallas Wesley and Candice Heltz, Mylinda and John Haltom, Kathryn and Nick Kersey, James Swaim and John Swaim; and great-grandchildren Alyssa Kate Heltz, Caroline Heltz, Charlotte Heltz, Hunter Kersey and Michael Heltz. He is also survived by his sisters Bertie Hines, Pat Beasley and Jennie Barner, and a host of nieces and nephews. Joe graduated from Stephens High School in 1951 and attended Draughon School of Radio in Little Rock. He met Ruth in Little Rock and they married on April 13, 1952, at Oak Forest United Methodist Church in Little Rock. In 1953, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a radio technician in Hawaii for three years, where Philip and Linda were born. Upon leaving the Navy, he worked for RCA in Oklahoma, before returning home to Arkansas. He traveled the state for Thermogas and later the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as a two-way radio technician and was known by many as "Radio Joe." Words cannot capture the legacy and example he leaves for his beloved family to cherish and follow. Nothing was more important to this tall, handsome, strong, tenderhearted man than his family. They will honor him by taking care of the people, places and things he loved. Joe loved fishing, making a garden, his 1973 yellow Ford pick-up truck, fellowship with friends at Western Hills United Methodist Church, spending time on his 80 acres in Buena Vista, enjoying a corned beef sandwich at Oaklawn, and driving to see fall foliage. Dessert was his favorite vegetable and coffee was his drink of choice. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2015 at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock. The funeral service will be held Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Western Hills United Methodist Church, 4601 Western Hills Ave., Little Rock, with burial following at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander. Pallbearers will be Jeffery Heltz, Edward Swaim, John Haltom, Nick Kersey, David Beasley and Mark Beasley. Services will be officiated by Rev. Edwin Pinkston. Sign the online guest book at griffinleggetthealeyroth.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be sent to Western Hills United Methodist Church, 4601 Western Hills Ave., Little Rock Ark. 72204 or the charity of your choice.