OBITUARIES: Northwest Arkansas

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

— Stanley Lee “Stan” Allison, 83, of Siloam Springs, died Aug. 2, 2012, at his home.

He was born March 16, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Warner Lee Allison and Oma Waterman Allison. He married Iva Williams in Tontitown on July 18, 1998. He was employed by Armstrong Rubber, where he was a tire builder before he retired. He moved to this area 20 years ago and has enjoyed traveling in his trailer since his retirement. He attended First Baptist Church in Lowell.

He was preceded in death by a son and three sisters.

Survivors include his wife Iva of the home; three sons, John Allison and wife Barbara of Hickory Creek, David Allison of Des Moines, and Warner Allison and wife Stacy of Hickory Creek; one daughter-in-law, Cynthia Allison; one step-daughter, Sherry Lamphear and husband Dale of Siloam Springs; one stepson, Roger Boyle and wife Pat of Gentry; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were Aug. 6 at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, with Mike Whorton officiating. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Douglas Baker

Douglas Ray Baker, 30, of Sulphur Springs, died Aug. 2, 2012, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.

He was born Jan. 7, 1982, at Borger, Texas, to Donald Richard and Carolyn Lavone Fulton Baker. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and had worked in the Return Center for Walmart.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Wanda Baker.

Survivors include his parents of Sulphur Springs; two brothers, Donald Lee Baker of Lawton, Okla., and Mark Baker of Duncan, Okla.; and one sister, Sharmon Baker of Sulphur Springs.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the Patrick Cemetery with Johnny Baker officiating. Arrangements are by Brashears Funeral Home, Huntsville.

Kevin Banta

Kevin Ray Banta, 46, of Gentry, died Aug. 3, 2012, near Clarksville.

He was born Aug. 16, 1965, in Battle Creek, Iowa, to Charles Homer Banta and Sandra Moore Banta. He worked as a truck driver for Hewitt Trucking out of Ida Grove, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Banta.

Survivors include his mother, Sandra Banta of Gentry; two brothers, Kent Banta and wife Mona of Gentry, and Kurt Banta and wife Stacey of Gravette; one sister, Kim Acuff and husband Billy of Gentry.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs. Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home.

Bessie Cornelison

Bessie Jean Cornelison, 80, of Colcord, Okla., died Aug. 1, 2012, at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, Siloam Springs.

She was born Sept. 22, 1931, in Colcord, to David Linn and Elva McCombs Linn. She was married to Earl Cornelison. She served as a “grandmother” at the elementary schools for the past 30-plus years. Bessie was a member of Countryside Bible Church, Colcord.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Cornelison; brother, James; and her parents.

Survivors include one daughter, Peggy Morrison and husband Claude of Colcord; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Lavon Teel of Colcord, Gladys Denny of Jay, Okla., Velma Wood of Tulsa, Okla., Kay Wooten of Grove,Okla., and Evelyn Gibbyg of Colcord; brothers, Jode Linn of Siloam Springs, and Walter Linn, Bill Linn and Jerry Linn, all of Colcord.

Funeral services were Aug. 4 at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, with Larry Ellis officiating. Burial followed at Row Cemetery, Colcord. Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs.

Loyd Johnston

Loyd M. Johnston, 87, of the Highfill community, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

He was born Dec. 17, 1924, in Winfrey Valley to George and Bonnie Meadors Johnston. He pastored the Moseley Regular United Baptist Church in Moseley, Okla., for 51 years. He also worked as a foreman on pullet crews for Hudson Farms. He farmed throughout his life and was known as the “Watermelon King.” He enjoyed time in the outdoors hunting and fishing.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister.

He is survived by his wife, Geneveve (Johnson) Johnston, whom he married Sept. 10, 1944, in Sonora; two children, Joyce Insco and husband Keith of Moseley, Dale Johnston and wife Darlene of Springdale; a sister, Evelyn Collins of Springdale; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Aug. 6 at Moseley Regular United Baptist Church. Interment was at Hickory Creek Cemetery. Arrangements were by Heritage Funeral Home in Springdale.

Janice Larson

Janice Kaye Larson, 63, of Gravette, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale.

Survivors include two sons, Christopher Mabe and his wife Jing of Bella Vista, and Chad Larson of California;one brother; one sister; and one grandson.

Arrangements are by Epting Funeral Home of Bella Vista.

June Palmore

June Faye Palmore, 78, of Jay, Okla., formerly of Decatur. died Aug. 5, 2012, at Landmark Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Foy Palmore, and one son, Kelly Moore.

She is survived by five sons, Terry Moore of Sulphur Springs, Eddy Moore of Southwest City, Mo., Jimmy Moore of Decatur, Billy Jon Moore and his wife Marrill of Siloam Springs, and Foy L. Palmore of Siloam Springs; three daughters, Laura (Jean) Lewis and her husband Sonny of Jay, Karla J. Anthony and her husband Ken of Zion, Ill., and Beverly Barker and her husband Olis of Neosho, Mo.; 24 grandchildren; and numerous greatgrandchildren.

Arrangements are by Epting Funeral Home, Bella Vista.

Thomas Phippen

Thomas Washington Phippen, 91, of Gravette, died July 31, 2012, at Circle of Life Legacy Village in Bentonville.

He was born on March 2, 1921, in Audubon County, Iowa, to Thomas Phippen and Dagmar Jensen Phippen. He was raised and educated in Exira, Iowa. He moved to Gravette in 1974. After the death of his wife Violet in 2003, he married Lois Churchman Mann in 2004. He was a carpenter and builder in Bella Vista. He was a founding member and builder of the Northwest Arkansas Christian Center of Gravette.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, George and Leonard; and sister, Florence.

He is survived by his wife, Lois of Gravette; two sons, Gary and wife Sherryl of Erie, Colo., Dennis and wife Connie of Aurora, Colo.; one sister, Evelyn May of Audubon, Iowa; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and six stepchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 25, at The Church on the Hill (formerly Northwest Arkansas Christian Center). Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory, Bella Vista.

Alden Roller

Alden Ray Roller, 63, of Decatur, died July 31, 2012, at Springdale Health and Rehab in Springdale.

He was born Jan. 29, 1949, in Siloam Springs, to Arch Raymond Roller and Marjorie V. Close Roller. He worked 35 years as an adoption specialist for the state of Arkansas Department of Human Services. He moved from Little Rock to Decatur in 2009. He is of the Methodist faith.

Survivors include his father, Arch Roller of Decatur; and one brother, Alan Roller and wife Nancy of Tontitown.

Graveside services were Aug. 3, at Decatur Cemetery, Decatur.

Benny Swindell

Benny Edgar Swindell, 69, of Bentonville, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Rogers.

He was born in Bentonville on Sept. 12, 1942, to Condrey and Leota Mason Swindell. He was raised on a farm in the Mount Pleasant community near Hiwasse and graduated from Gravette High School in 1959. He obtained abachelor of arts degree from the University of Arkansas in 1963 and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in 1967. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He married Linda Mitchell of Jacksonville on June 20, 1969. He practiced law and later served as municipal judge in Johnson County, juvenile referee of Johnson County and circuit-chancery judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Arkansas. For 19 years he was the “voice” of the Clarksville High School football Panthers on radio. In 1999, he retired from the judiciary and returned with his wife to Benton County. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Bentonville. He also was a 32nd-degree Mason and was a member of Franklin Lodge No. 9 in Clarksville.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda of Bentonville; son and daughterin-law, Kevin Swindell and Renee Swindell of Bentonville; two daughters, Jennifer Mason of Claremore, Okla., and Karen Hill of Rogers; two sons-in-law, Matt Mason of Claremore, Okla., and Braden Hill of Rogers; six grandchildren; and one brother, Dr. William Swindell of Rogers.

Funeral services were Aug. 3, at First Baptist Church in Bentonville, officiated by Phillip Smith and Billy Ray Ussery. Burial followed in Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Hiwasse. Arrangements were by Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville.

Community, Pages 4 on 08/08/2012