Roy Arvid Brinkley

Roy Arvid Brinkley Jr. passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. He was born April 20, 1928 in Osceola, Arkansas, the son of Roy Arvid Brinkley and Verna Ruth Crews. He descended from pioneers who arrived in Hempstead County in 1843. He was a proud member of a family that now numbers seven generations of Arkansas Brinkleys. Roy graduated high school in Keiser, Mississippi County in 1946. There being no housing available at the University of Arkansas due to the enrollment of returning World War II veterans, he enrolled first at Ole Miss, then transferred to Mississippi State University graduating in 1949. As a member of the Maroon Marching band he met and fell in love with fellow saxophonist Bobbye June Marler. They married in 1947. After Roy's graduation in 1949 he, Bobbye and their daughter moved to Jackson, Mississippi where their second daughter was born. Roy served as a Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Warfare officer in the U.S. Army based in Ft. Hood Texas from 1951 to 1952. He served with the 45th Infantry Division as a preventative medicine officer in the Korean Conflict until he was called home to Arkansas following the death of his parents in an auto accident. With his wife, two children and four siblings in tow, the family moved to Little Rock and Roy enrolled at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. By the time of his graduation in 1957, two more daughters had joined the family. Through medical school and the beginning of his medical practice, Roy continued his military service in the Arkansas National Guard and the Army Reserve retiring as a Captain. After his internship he began his practice in North Little Rock in 1958, later opening his internal medicine practice in Little Rock. In 1986 Roy left his medical practice to work as an emergency room physician and was an inaugural member of the Med-Flight team at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock and Arkadelphia. He was employed as a medical consultant to the National Center for Toxicological Research, the Olin Chemical Corporation and the Arkansas Department of Human Services as well as serving as medical director on the Titan Missile Project for Martin and Company from 1962-1964. In his 50 years of practicing medicine he was a mentor to many young physicians. Roy was a member of Lions International, serving as president of the Park Hill Lions Club and later becoming the medical consultant for Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. He was a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. Roy was a curious man who never stopped learning. He loved to hunt, fish, camp and water ski, especially at Mountain Harbor on Lake Ouachita. He built his first computer in the early 60's and he was an amateur radio operator. He was a gifted woodworker and designer of dollhouses and toy barns for his grandchildren. He made golf clubs for himself and his friends. His family was never surprised to hear of his new projects whether it was rebuilding a Volkswagen motor, building a fiberglass sailboat in the garage or making a violin. He loved music and played many instruments. He was a prolific photographer, developing his photos in a dark room in the downstairs of his home. He was a painter, a pilot (occasionally he would fly from Little Rock to Fayetteville to have lunch at the Chi Omega house – of which all four of his daughters were members - then fly home), a sailor and a proud graduate of the Brooklin Wooden Boat School in Maine. Before computer access to family histories he collected his genealogies by letter, personal contact and archive research. Above all, Roy was an amazing whistler. Roy is predeceased by his parents and a sister, Carolyn Joy Brinkley. He is survived by Bobbye, his wife of 68 years; four daughters and their husbands: Gwyn and Jim Wood of Fayetteville, Anne and Jim Glover of North Little Rock, Diana and Todd Maclin of Dallas, Texas and Judy and DeVoe Reagan of Midlothian, Virginia. He is survived by his grandchildren, David (Crystal) Carroum and Benjamin (Sunny) Carroum of Dallas, Texas; Leigh Kathryn (Robert) Bell of Fayetteville; Molly (Zak) Knutson of Los Angeles; Rustin Glover of Little Rock; Courtney (Joey) Rector of Little Rock; Brinkley Maclin of Dallas; Sam Maclin of Austin, Texas; Kelly Reagan of Elon, North Carolina and Casey Reagan of Banner Elk, North Carolina. Roy is also survived by great grandchildren Grace and Evelyn Carroum, Brayden Glover, Liam Rector and Mac and Rosemary Bell. He leaves his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Betty Brinkley of Donaldson; and sisters and brothers-in-law Peggy and Bill Holman of Little Rock and Vera and Louis Anderson of Montgomery, Alabama, and many dear friends. Roy will be missed by all, especially by his grandchildren, his many nieces, nephews and their friends to whom he was affectionately known as Daddy Rat. Visitation will be on Friday, February 13, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, North Little Rock, Ark. 72114. Private Internment at Rest Hills Memorial Park. Memorial Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Lakewood United Methodist Church 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock. Arkansas 72116. The family wishes to thank the nurses and the staff of Sherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Lakewood United Methodist Church and World Services for the Blind, 2811 Fair Park Blvd., Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.