Obituaries

John Wheeler Smith

Photo of John  Wheeler Smith
John Wheeler Smith of Fordyce was born March 23, 1933 in Jacinto, Ark. He was the youngest of three children by Junius Jordan Smith and Juddie Wheeler Smith. He passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, Ark. John graduated from Fordyce High School in 1952 and was a 1956 graduate of Henderson State Teachers College. He earned a degree in Psychology and English which enabled him to be very successful in insurance sales. After college, he filled a teacher vacancy at Thornton High School in Thornton, Ark., then went on to teach at Princeton, Ark. for a short period of time. He completed his teaching career in about five years at Dial Junior High School in Pine Bluff, Ark. While active in the Army he served during the Cuban Missile Crisis where he was stationed at Fort Chaffee, Ark. During this time he married Hilda Womack Smith. John joined Fordyce Methodist Church in high school and then upon returning to Fordyce in 1977, he transferred his membership from St. James United Methodist Church of Little Rock, Ark. to Fordyce United Methodist Church. Preceded in death are his parents; his brother, James (Johnnie Ruth); his sister, Janice Archer (Jim); and his nephew, David Smith. John is survived by his wife, Hilda Smith; a daughter, Cynthia Smith of Little Rock, AR; a brother-in-law, James Womack (Lena); a sister-in-law, Eleanor Watkins (Bobby) all of Fordyce, Ark., and sister-in-law Lucy Hollin (Don) of Jackson, TN; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; and two special grand dogs, Gus and Jinx Smith. There will be a memorial service at 2p.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Fordyce First United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home and the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Fordyce First United Methodist Church, 104 E. 4th Street, Fordyce, Ark. 71742; Tulip Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 184, Leola, Ark. 72084; or Greg Morse Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 23091, Little Rock, Ark. 72221. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.

Published January 27, 2018

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