Robert V. Burdine

Charles V. Burdine, 75, of Vendor, Arkansas, died April 30, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born June 4, 1936 on the family farm at Vendor, the son of Cylvester and Sally Jane (Cheatham) Burdine. The Burdines were named Newton County Farm Family of the Year in 1973 and again in 1982, when they were also honored as the Northwest Arkansas Farm Family. Charles operated a large swine farm; worked as a banker; and a funeral home manager. He was the past general manager of Newton County Farmer's Cooperative. For the past several years, he managed a beef operation on the family farm. Charles was a deacon and active leader in Big Creek Assembly of God Church. Mr. Burdine was instrumental in the development of the Eastern Newton County Water Association, where he served as president. He also served on the board of Area Agency on Aging, Newton County Fair Board, and Newton County Farm Bureau. Charles served in the US Army Reserve, 4341 Unit. Charles was committed to the cause of rural electrification, serving as the chairman of the board of directors of Carroll Electric Cooperative. Charles served as a board member and former chairman of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. and the Electric Research and Manufacturing Company. He also served as a former board member and chairman of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. During 2008-2009, he presided as chairman of the board at all four organizations, a historic first for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. In 2009 he received the Pioneer Award from the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, which is commemorated on the Electric Cooperatives' Wall of Fame in Little Rock. Charles was a loyal husband, a loving father, a doting grandfather and a good friend to many people in the extended Arkansas community. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joy (Norton) Burdine; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly and Adam Motherwell of Fayetteville and Kristi and Johnny James of Vendor; three grandsons, John Burdine James and Nicholas Houston Norton James of Vendor, and Charles Jackson Motherwell of Fayetteville, and one granddaughter, Kathryn Hunter Burdine Motherwell, also of Fayetteville; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathryn Wheeler of Harrison, Edith Thompson of Jasper, Louise and Gus Kilgore of Bergman, and Bernice and Marvin Blevins of Harrison; and a special cousin, Robert Burdine, of Harrison. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Voda Sims, Gladys Hefley, Amy Sexton and infant sister, Cly Burdine; and his best friend and only brother, James Edward Burdine. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 4, 2012, at Big Creek Assembly of God Church in Vendor, with the Reverends Arlis Thrasher and Rex Middleton officiating, under the direction of Roller-Christeson Funeral Home, www.rollerfuneralhome.com, of Harrison, Arkansas. Interment will be at Smith Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ben Eddings, Kent Johnson, Philip Campbell, Bill Reffert, Winfred Prier, Bob Lyford, Gerald Norton and Rob Boaz. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Smothers, Tom Flud, Clint Craig and the Carroll Electric Cooperative Board, both past and present. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 3rd at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 92 W. Sunbridge, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72703, or to Big Creek Assembly of God Church, General Delivery, Vendor, Arkansas, 72683.