Edward Duane Riffel

Edward Duane Riffel, 87, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Aug. 28, 2013. He was born on the family farm northwest of Stockton, Kan., the son of Edward John Riffel and Mabel (Ruby) Riffel. He graduated from Stockton High School in 1942. While there, he met Dorothea VanHorn and they became high school sweethearts. After high school graduation, he enrolled at Kansas State University. After three semesters, Duane enlisted in the Army. He served 28 months, of which nine months were in the European Theater, with the 515th Medical Clearing Company, 65th Medical Group. The primary responsibilities of this group were to care for liberated inmates of the German slave labor camps that were in the heavy industrialized areas such as the Ruhr valley and later the survivors of Nazi Death Camps. When the war ended, he returned home to Stockton in late Sept. 1945, and he was married to Dorothea on Feb. 3, 1946. Duane retuned to Kansas State, where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. In January of 1948, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, with high honor, Phi Kappa Phi, and Gamma Sigma Delta. Most of his career he worked sales with Olin Chemicals. His last position with Olin was manager of the customer services in Little Rock. After retiring, Dorothea and Duane maintained a home in the Mystic Isle Subdivision on Greers Ferry Lake for 24 years. They were active in Holiday Hills Methodist Church, where Duane served at its treasurer of eight years. Duane loved to fish and play bridge. Finally with advancing years and health problems, they relocated to Springdale, Ark. They joined the Presbyterian Church there and developed a new circle of friends who welcomed them with open arms. Duane is survived by four children, Douglas Riffel of North Little Rock, Dennis Riffel of Fairhope, Ala., Bradley Riffel of Kansas City, Kan., and Kathy Herriman of Fayetteville, Ark. He is survived by his children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, in addition, a host of friends and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mabel and Ed; brother, Donald; and his wife of 57 years, Dorothea. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 3, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church in Springdale, Ark. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 100 South Gutensohn Road, Springdale, Ark., 72762. His remains will be buried at Woodland Memorial Park by Olmstead Funeral Home.