Herschel Benton Duncan
LINCOLN — Herschel Benton (H.B.) Duncan, age 71, passed away on Dec. 21, 2009, at his home in Lincoln, Ark., after a very short bout with cancer. He was born in Fayetteville on Aug. 31, 1938, to the late Walter Nathaniel Duncan and Ora Ruth Meredith-Duncan of Round Mountain east of Fayetteville. His was pre-deceased by his grandparents Wm. and Cleo Duncan of Round Mountain and Joe and Ora Meredith and of the Wyman Community.
Herschel and his siblings were reared in a home by very devout, loving parents in the Assembly of God denomination. His dad, Walter Duncan, was a dedicated and honorable Assembly of God pastor for many years. His brother, Ralph, is the pastor of an Assembly of God church in Franklin, Tenn.
Having been reared in a family that was taught the meaning of hard work, Herschel began at the age of 17 driving a truck to help support his family after his dad became seriously ill. He and his brothers helped the family survive until their dad regained his health.
Herschel served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963 at Fort Eustis, Va. After serving two years, he and his wife, Loretta Ruth Blalock-Duncan, moved back to Northwest Arkansas where they began their family, a daughter, Cheryl Kay, and a son, Jim.
Herschel became a very successful and respected businessman in Springdale. In 1963, he and his wife bought Shaver Produce from Sherrel and Anita Shaver and operated as Duncan Produce for several years. When Urban Renewal purchased the building, they bought 10 acres on East Emma and built a new building, operating as Springdale Banana House for several years.
In 1969, Herschel purchased a small grocery store on East Emma and operated as Sav-Mor Grocery Store. Then, with growing pains, Herschel built a larger grocery store on East Emma in front of his Food Service so that he could manage both operations personally while operating as Farmer’s Warehouse Market. Herschel built up many friends during these busy, hectic years in the Springdale area.
Herschel expanded his produce business to a full food service and operated as Duncan Foods for several years. His company incorporated the full-service needs of restaurants, local grocery stores and schools in Northwest Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma with fresh produce, meats and other cafeteria supplies. Herschel became known as the “Banana King of Northwest Ark” because of his ripening skills of bananas. He closed out this business in 1994.
Herschel and his wife owned 40 acres west of Springdale during this time, which now incorporates the Arvest Ballpark. He and his wife felt very honored that such an entity would choose the exact property which they owned. Among the crops that were produced on the farm were grapes, apples and peaches that Herschel and his family tended along with the other businesses that he owned and managed.
In 1994, Herschel purchased a truck and trailer and went on long-haul driving. He hauled for Dewayne Provence of Fayetteville several years, and later, Wal-Mart out of Bentonville. He really enjoyed driving his ‘big’ truck until he fell out of his trailer onto the concrete pavement while making a delivery to a Tyson chicken plant in Pine Bluff in 2004 and crushed his hip. He managed to get back up into the truck and, while holding his leg in traction, drove the truck back to Mountainburg where he was picked up in the family vehicle and driven back to the hospital emergency room in Springdale. He had to have a total hip replacement, which hindered greatly his driving ability. He took his grandson, Brandon Tabor, with him and taught him how to operate the big rig over the next few years. Then Herschel’s wife sold his truck at her yard sale so that ended that season of his life.
In all that Herschel did, he believed in working long, hard hours, usually 15 to 18 hours a day, and seven days a week. His motto over the years was “You are only selling a service. So you had better be the best at what you do.” He and his wife worked together in these operations and reared their two children to be responsible workers through the company.
Herschel very seldom met a stranger. Anyone that met Herschel remembered him. He might not always remember their names when he met a person, but he always made conversation with them. Once you met Herschel, you usually did not forget him. He had a sly sense of humor that people were drawn to and was highly regarded by family and friends.
Among Herschel’s survivors are his wife and caregiver, Loretta Ruth Blalock-Duncan of 48 years, their daughter Cheryl Tabor and her husband, Ralph Gary, of Lincoln, and a son, Jim Duncan, of Lincoln. Herschel was blessed with four grandchildren, Brandon Tabor and his wife, Andrea; Josh Tabor and his wife, Tiffany; Duncan Tabor, and Jessica Tabor-Lassiter and her husband, Chris, of Normal, Ill. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Destiny Tabor, Maura Layne Tabor and Kolden Tabor.
Herschel is also survived by four brothers: Paul and his wife, Doris, of Nettleton, Miss.; David of Tupelo, Miss.; Philip of Booneville, Miss.; Ralph and his wife, Diane, of Franklin, Tenn.; and two sisters: Cleora Brown of Tupelo, Miss., and Sharon Baggett and her husband, Larry, of Fayetteville. Also surviving are several nieces and a nephew.
Visitation is set from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday on Dec. 27, 2009, at Sisco Funeral Chapel.
Funeral arrangements will be made by Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale with services set at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2009. Pastor Tim Smith of the Fayetteville First Assembly of God Church will conduct the services. Burial will be in the Sonora Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be made to Washington Regional Hospice, 34 W. Colt Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
To sign the guestbook online please visit www.siscofuneral.com.
— Paid
Lillian M. Smith
SPRINGDALE — Lillian Marie Smith, 78 of Springdale died Dec. 19, 2009, in Miami. She was born Dec. 31, 1930, in Tontitown, to Leo Joseph and Lucy Marie Pianalto.
Lillian could always be found supporting her local church. She’s held many roles as Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) teacher, Eucharistic minister, lector, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and Cursillo sponsor, and member of the Legion of Mary and Daughters of Isabella. She was also an active volunteer for Birthright. She took on one of her most important roles in 2005 when she moved to Miami. Despite her illness, she continued her devotion to the church and taught her grandchildren so much about God by living a humble, modest and faithful life. Through her daily example of devotion to Christ and relentless positive attitude, she enlightened and inspired everyone who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, John F. Smith, her parents, Leo and Lucy Pianalto, eight brothers Eugene, Lawrence, Gabriel, Oliver, Francis, Leo A., Edward, and Raymond Pianalto and one sister, Olivia Lillian.
Survivors include one brother, Leonard Pianalto of Tontitown; two sisters, Olivia Cigainero of Tontitown and Juanita Coger of Springdale; three sons, John Smith of Springdale, Brian Smith and wife, Corinne, of Miami, and Mark Smith and wife, Donna, of Jacksonville, Fla.; one daughter, Martha Snyder and husband, Roger, of Miami, Fla; several nieces and nephews, and eleven grandchildren, Tonie Snyder, Benjamin Smith, Duncan Smith, Jonah Snyder, Carley Smith, Alexa Smith, Maia Snyder, Amanda Smith, Lillian (Lilly) Smith, Ella Smith, and Leo Snyder.
A Catholic Mass and funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 192 E. Henri de Tonti, Tontitown with Fr. Joseph Marconi officiating. The visitation and Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tontitown. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dwain Pianalto, Larry Coger, Stanley Pianalto, Eric Pianalto, Marshall Cigainero, Benjamin Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Duncan Smith, Jonah Snyder, and Leo Snyder.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Charities of Arkansas, 2500 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, AR 72207. Phone: (501) 664-0340.
To sign the guestbook, go to www.siscofuneral.com.
— Paid
Elson Ellis
SPRINGDALE — Elson David “Sam” Ellis, 62, of Springdale died Dec. 21, 2009, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. He was born April 17, 1947, in Bangor, Maine, to Allen Herrick and Lila Alice Bradford Ellis.
He was an Army veteran and worked as a transmission mechanic and supervisor throughout his life.
Survivors include his wife, Geneva Cheryl; nine children, Chance Ellis and wife, Michele, of Springdale, Cristle Fleetwood of Las Vegas, Kali Ellis of Springdale, Leonardo Ellis, Dionna Lila, Kendra Butterfield and husband, Daniel, of Springdale, Adrian Jordan and wife, Candice, of Elkins, Leah Martin and husband, Raymond, of Dayton, Ohio, Riley Lyons of Fayetteville; a sister; and fourteen grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Saved By Grace Church in Springdale.
Interment with military honors will be at Bluff Cemetery.