Don VALENTINE (VETERAN)

Don
US Army
October 29, 1932 - December 27, 2022

*Obituary
Epting Funeral Home
Bentonville, Arkansas

Don Valentine, age 90, of Benton, Louisiana went home to be with the Lord at Circle of Life Hospice House located in Bentonville, Arkansas, on December 27, 2022. He was born October 29, 1932 in Bates, Arkansas, the son of Nora Scott and Johnny Valentine. He graduated from Waldron Arkansas High School and Arkansas Tech University with a B.A. in Business.

While attending high school in Waldron, Arkansas, Don met the love of his life, Jean Doyle. They were married upon his graduation from Arkansas Tech University in 1953. After serving 2 years in the U.S. Army, Don and Jean returned home to Fort Smith, Arkansas where he began his retail career with J. C. Penney. He was in retail management throughout the state of Texas and later moved to Monroe, Louisiana with Beall-Ladymon Department Stores from which he retired in 1987. Those who knew Don also know that he could not sit still. He became the property manager at Washington Plaza in Monroe, Louisiana for several years. He then went on to work part-time in his son-in-law's oil and gas business, Quiet Sun, until his retirement at age 80.

Don lived Colossians 3:23. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Throughout his life, Don was first and foremost a devoted Christian and was always a member of the local Baptist Church. He loved to serve at each church they were involved in including being a Sunday School teacher, deacon, and various committee assignments. Don was very community minded having been a member of the Lion's Club, and local Chambers of Commerce. In his later years, his passion was coordinating blood drives through LifeShare, often at his home church of Airline Baptist in Bossier City, Louisiana. Don loved dogs, especially his Border Collie, Maggie, who preceded him in death by a couple of years. Don trained and certified Maggie to visit retirement centers and truly loved bringing joy to those they came in contact with.

However, Don, or more affectionately named "Papa", would tell you that his greatest accomplishment was his family and the fact that each had come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He truly loved spending time with his grandchildren and could often be found at a baseball field, a swimming pool, and front-yard soccer game, or walking on a railroad track pointing out the wonders of nature. Don never missed the opportunity to attend a band recital, gymnastics or swim meet, choir concert, equestrian competition, along with the soccer and baseball games. Further evidence of his love for being with his grandchildren was being awarded Ouachita Grandparent of the Year.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Don is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jean Valentine; daughter Sherry Kadar and husband Scott, of Rogers, Arkansas, son Kevin Valentine and wife Donna of Fayetteville, Arkansas, daughter Vicki Whitehead and husband Matt, of Benton, Louisiana; brother, JB Valentine and wife Sue of Wylie, Texas; grandchildren Steven (Mary) Kadar, Jen Kadar-Brown (Simon), Paige (Matt) Light, Claire Valentine, Eric Whitehead, Ethan Whitehead; great-grandchildren Ewan Brown, Keira Brown, Hayden Kadar, Georgiana Light and special friend, Donavan Hyde.

Graveside service will be at Rogers Cemetery. A celebration of Don's life will be Tuesday at 10:30 am at Circle of Life Hospice House Chapel, located in Bentonville, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Airline Baptist Church, Common Ground Community, 4830 Line Ave. #117, Shreveport, La 71106 or the local Humane Society.

Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville.

Married August 16, 1953

Contributed on 11/21/23 by wfields55
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Record #: 1509895

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