Dale Diffie

Dr. Dale Patton Diffie departed this life on July 28, 2018 at the age of 87. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas to Dale Matthew and Mamie Patton Diffie on September 5, 1930. He was a 1948 graduate of Little Rock Central High School. He attended Little Rock Junior College for 2 yrs., and went on to graduate from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. in 1954. While serving in the U.S. Army, he received a Masters of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina. He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1977 and then after bringing his family home to Arkansas he went to work at the Arkansas State Health Department as the Arkansas Optometric Consultant. He opened his private optometry practice in Beebe in 1981 where he served and cared for his patients with kindness and compassion until he retired a final time in 1990. He was a charter member of the Beebe Lions Club and a member of Beebe First United Methodist Church since 1981. Dr. Diffie married the love of his life, Wilma McIntyre of Lonoke in 1954 and was a kind and devoted husband for 64 years as well as the best father that anyone could ever hope to have. He truly was an honorable man and was loved and respected by all who knew him. He enjoyed fly fishing and his favorite place to be was in his boat fishing the Little Red River. He also loved baseball, was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and also, was a life long Hog Fan who rarely missed a televised Razorback game of any sport. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Grace and Ersel Hughes and his grandson, Samuel B. Diffie. He is survived by his eternally grateful wife, Wilma and three children, Craig Diffie (Elizabeth) of Vienna, Va., Kevin Diffie of Jacksonville and Lisa Tigue of Cabot and five grandchildren, Clint, Douglas, Alex, Jessica and Levi and thee great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 3rd at 9 a.m. with a Memorial service to follow at 10 a.m. at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Cremation Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.