Dr. J.D. Rankin

Dr. J.D. Rankin, 81, of Hamburg, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Dr. Rankin was a native of Elaine, Ark. and a resident of Hamburg since 1965. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He graduated from Hendrix College in 1957 and from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1961. He practiced medicine in Hamburg for 51 years and was on the staff of the Ashley County Medical Center and served as Chief of Staff on several different occasions. He was the Medical Director of the Leisure Lodge Nursing Home in Hamburg for many years. He served on the Hamburg School Board for many years and President for 10 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. He is preceded in death by his father, James D. Rankin Sr.; his mother, Sara Elizabeth Sharp Rankin Vandiver; his step-father, William Doyle Vandiver; and a brother, William Earl Rankin. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Stanley Rankin of Hamburg; three sons, James "Jim" D. Rankin III of Little Rock, Stanley Downey Rankin and wife, Stacie, of Springdale and Dr. Joshua David Rankin and wife, Valerie, of Fayetteville; his step-sister, Carolyn Vandiver Pollan and husband, Corbett, of Memphis, Tenn.; his sister-in-law, Syble Lang Rankin of Albertville, Ala.; and eight grandchildren, Will, Clara, Annie, Sadie, Sebastian, Shelbie, Noah and Luke Rankin. Funeral services are 2 p.m., Wednesday at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Bobby Pennington officiating. Burial will be in Pinewood Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Jeff Foote Sr., Dr. Louis Garcia, Dr. Andy Gresham, Philip Gilmore, Will Rankin and Sebastian Rankin. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Men's Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church and the Medical Staff of Ashley County Medical Center. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 352, Hamburg, Ark. 71646. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home, Hamburg. Online guest book at www.jones-hartshorn.com.