Benton Carl Poynor

Benton Carl Poynor, formerly of Waldron, AR, passed from this life surrounded by loving family on May 16, 2018, at the age of 83 years. He was born June 29, 1934, in Phoenix, AZ. He loved the Lord and was a member of Pilot Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he led a Bible study group.

Ben had many interests and skills in his lifetime that were reflected in the variety of ways he supported himself and his family. As a child, he worked in various gas stations owned by his father. He worked as a surveyor for the Smithsonian Institute when he was only 16 years old and participated in an archeological dig at the River Basin Project in Fort Berthold, North Dakota. He also worked as a roughneck on oil drilling rigs, a bulldozer operator, a maintenance man at Valmac Industries, and a parts salesman at Waldron Parts Company.

Ben enjoyed spending his time studying the Bible, being with family, gardening, working on John Deere tractors, and in his later years, keeping up with friends on Facebook. He was a skilled welder and auto mechanic. He was a talented photographer and trumpet player. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. One of the last gifts he gave his family was sharing a joke with a caregiver only hours before his death. He knew he would be missed greatly by those who loved him, but was eager to go to his heavenly home.

Ben was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Dorothy Louise (Embry) Poynor, his parents, Truman and Delma Poynor, a sister, Yvonne Nevills, and a great-grandchild, Blair Burroughs. He leaves behind to cherish his memory a son, Rickey Poynor (Jo Ellen), daughters Patricia Rodgers (Buck), and Sharon Goodwin (Moody). He was Papa and Poppy to grandchildren Heather Poynor Chancellor (Lane), Holly Poynor Burroughs (Kliff), Brandon Goodwin, and Jenna Rodgers Urban (Patrick), and great-grandchildren Lanie, Charly, and Henry Chancellor, Avery and Ainsley Burroughs, and Nathanael Urban.

For the past four years his home was Montgomery County Assisted Living, in Mt. Ida, AR, where his caregivers and the entire staff there became a part of his family. Ben’s family will be forever indebted to Sherrie Morris, Administrator of MCAL for her tireless love, compassion, and patience that she extended to all of them.

Ben’s graveside life celebration service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Pilot Prairie Cemetery in Waldron, AR, with Rickey Poynor officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, Waldron, Arkansas.

Ben's pallbearers will be Rickey Poynor, Moody Goodwin, Buck Rodgers, Lane Chancellor, Kliff Burroughs and Brandon Goodwin. Honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Urban and Curtis Scott.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 823, Waldron, AR 72958