Robert Estel Westerfield

Robert Estel Westerfield, 73, passed away on May 12, 2015 at John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. He was born on December 16, 1941 in San Diego, Calif to Maurice and Ruth Brannon Westerfield. Some of Robert's fondest childhood memories were of time spent with his grandmother and cousins in the countryside near Thornburg, though he could also call Little Rock and Miami, Fla. home. He graduated from Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School in Miami, Fla. in 1959. Robert's wide range of experiences after high school included four years in the Air Force, four years in the Marines Corps (including a 13 month stay in Vietnam), matriculation at San Diego State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1970, and graduate work at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Doctorate in physics with his dissertation "An Application of Cumulant Techniques to Irreversible Processes." When Robert's interest turned to medicine, he enrolled in the University of Miami's School of Medicine in 1977. After maintaining a private practice in Morrilton, Ark. for a number of years, he completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Arkansas and continued to practice in Morrilton and Little Rock until retiring in 2011. Robert married Vicki Mitchell in 1992 in Little Rock, Ark. They were happily married for 23 years. He enjoyed woodworking, bird watching, gardening, and classical guitar; most of all he enjoyed the peace and solitude of his beloved Arkansas countryside. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Ruth Westerfield, sister Margaret Floyd, and brother John Maurice. Robert is survived by his spouse Vicki and daughter Kathryn of Little Rock, Ark.; daughters Christine and Marissa of San Diego, Calif.; his sisters Juanita Granger of Thornburg, Ark., Kathleen Cameron of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his grandchildren Luke and Sadie Williams; and his nieces and nephews and other relatives. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72205 at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2015, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, 601 N. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark., 72205; (501) 663-6699. Online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.