Floyd Russell Buffington

Floyd Russell Buffington, 81, of Springdale passed away Thursday, January 3, 2019 in Springdale. He was born December 26, 1937 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Maxwell and Dorothy Barker Buffington. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, David Buffington. Floyd had quite a list of accomplishments. In April of 1993, he saved the life of 16-year-old girl who had been thrown from a car into a farm pond due to a single vehicle accident. May of 1994, he was the Illinois Driver of the Month from the Illinois Motor Carrier Association. In 1995, he was the National Truck Driver of the Year. He received the Illinois Governor Letter of Commendation for saving the life of Christina Brown. Floyd was a recipient of Rep. Jerry Weller Member of U.S. Congress Letter of Congratulations. He also received the U.S. Dept of Transportation and U.S. Dept of Transportation Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration letters of commendation. Floyd was also awarded the National Safety Council and American Trucking Association letters of commendation. Other letters of commendation include the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and the Presidential Citation from President Bill Clinton in 1996. From 1995-1996 he was on A.T.A. America's Road Team. He received from the City of Springdale commendation for the heroic rescue of a drowning 3-year-old girl from a neighbors swimming pool, August 2, 2002. Floyd was employed by C.F. Motor Freight from January 1968 to September 1998 retiring after almost 31 years. His retirement came after 4.2 million miles with no accidents or traffic tickets. He was a 50+ year member of the American Truck Historical Society, a 50 year Master Mason and a 50 year Shriner. He was also included as a member of Scottish Rite and York Rite Masons. Floyd was a U.S. Army veteran having served 31 months overseas. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Past Commander and D.A.V. He is survived by his wife, Karen of the home, to whom he was married 55 years; two sons, Jon Buffington and wife, Martha of Maastricht, Netherlands and Scott Buffington of Santa Fe, N.M.; two brothers, Kenneth Buffington and wife, Theresa and Dennis Buffington and wife, Sondra, all of Marshalltown, Iowa; and a granddaughter, Claire Buffington. A Celebration of Life will be 3:00 PM Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Scimitar Shrine Temple, 632 W. Riverfront Drive, N. Little Rock, Ark., 72114. Cremation arrangements by Beard's Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Fla., 33607, or visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com.