Marion C. "Buddy" Showalter

Marion C. “Buddy” Showalter, 84, of Jonesboro, passed from this life into Heaven on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

Born in Trumann, Buddy lived most of his life in the Nettleton area. He was a retired Captain for the Arkansas Highway Police with 25 years of service which included security details for Gov. Orval Faubus. Following his police work, Buddy retired from K-Mart in Jonesboro and was also part owner of Indian Insurance Agency and a farmer.

Buddy was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a tank commander. He served 22 months in Korea, receiving 2 purple hearts and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Buddy was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. Buddy was a long-time member of Nettleton Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school and training union. He was a charter board member of the Jonesboro Consolidated Youth Services and served on the Craighead County Memorial Hospital board of directors.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Daisy Gibson Showalter, by 3 brothers: Jimmy, Jerry and Ben Showalter, by a sister, Shirley Davis, and by a grandson, Jeremy Rickard.

Survivors include his wife, Vada Watkins Showalter of the home;
1 son, Donald (Dana) Showalter of Jonesboro;
1 daughter, Sherry (Donnie) Rickard of Jonesboro;
1 brother, Carroll (Trudy) Showalter of Riverside, California;
1 sister, Cathy (Larry) Davis of Batesville;

3 grandchildren: Jacob Showalter and Sarah Showalter both of Jonesboro Holly Rickard Ward of Kingsburg, California; and
3 great grandchildren: Lexi Price, Layne Rickard and Chance Rickard, all of Jonesboro.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10:00 in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Harold Ray and Rev. Stan Ballard officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers include Jacob Showalter, David Onstead, Jeff Showalter, John Showalter, Brent Watkins and Jimmy Bryant.

Honorary pallbearers include Onus Milsap, Ron Gartman, Parson Rose, Bill Powell, John Burrus, Linda Clark, Dr. Jeff Cohen and Dr. Anthony White.

Visitation will be held Monday evening, 5-7, at Emerson Funeral Home.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Nettleton Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2415, Jonesboro, AR 72402, or Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 400 East St., Jonesboro, AR 72401.