Jeff F Watton

Jeff Watton, 74, of Sherwood, Ark., died on Thursday, May 25, 2017. He was born Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1943 in Zanesville, Ohio, to the late Robert and Betty Watton. Jeff was the man most responsible for setting up the Life Support Team at Mt. Vernon Martin Memorial Hospital in Ohio. He saw a need for improved ambulance service because several patients in the area had died in the emergency van on the way to the hospital. He was the Chief respiratory therapist at the hospital at the time. He later set up many ambulance services in other states, including Arkansas. He received many awards over the years, including the 2005 Employer of the Year Award from the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Watton; daughter, Teresa (Bill) Aldrich of Ward, Ark.; two sons, Michael Ruyters, Joseph Watton both of Deltona, Fla.; three grandchildren, Jonathon Ruyters, Rachel and Megan Watton; and one brother, Jerry (Nina) Watton of Coshocton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital. Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, Ark. (501) 982-3400. Online guestbook can be found at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.