James R. Stitz Sr., 84, of Benton, formerly of Malvern, passed peacefully on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 after a 10 year battle with dementia. He was born in Uvalde, Texas to James V. and Georgia Stitz. He was raised in San Antonio. He moved to Little Rock in 1943 attending Central High School. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served on the USS Rockwall. Following the war, he met Mildred Smith of Malvern and married Sept. 17, 1948. He graduated from Henderson State Teachers College in 1951. He was deployed to Korea for a year and then joined the Army Reserve where he attained Lt. Col. before his retirement in 1972. He and his wife, Mildred, lived in Malvern where he started a 35 year career with AP&L and retired as local manager. He raised three children and was a member of Third Baptist Church in Malvern. He was with the JAYCEE'S, Civitan Club, and a Mason. Upon retirement they settled in Benton and were members of the First Baptist Church and served as a deacon and Gideon. They traveled extensively with friends and family. He is survived by his wife Mildred of 62 years; sons, Charles Stitz of Benton and Jim (Pat) Stitz of Hoover, Ala.; daughter, Melanie (Dan) White of Overland Park, Kan.; grandchildren, Alisha (Matt) Camp of Chelsea, Ala., Ryan Stitz of Auburn, Ala., and Daniel White and Marissa White of Overland Park, Kan.. A celebration of Jim's life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010 at First Baptist Church in Benton with Dr. Rick Grant officiating under the direction of Roller-Ballard Funeral Home in Benton (501-315-4047). Military burial will follow at Rockport Cemetery in Malvern. Visitation will be from 6–8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2010 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 211 S. Market Street, Benton, Ark., 72015. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ballard.

Published September 26, 2010