of Marshall, AR

January 11, 1920 - September 15, 2016

Chester Berlin Treadwell was born in Searcy County on January 11th, 1920 to Hugh and Julia Ann (McCarson) Treadwell. He was their fourth child and first son. There were five more siblings to be born after him. He passed from this life to his eternal home on Thursday, September 15th, 2016 at the age of 96 years, 8 months and 4 days. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Violet (Freeman) Treadwell; and seven brothers and sisters: Buel Holliman, Verna Moore, Enid Hotman, Garland Treadwell, Opal Treat, Loey Treadwell and Hugh Treadwell Jr. He is survived by his sister, Racine Ragland, four sons and one daughter: Larry (Sharon) Treadwell, Ronnie (Sallie) Treadwell, Diane (Jim) Griffin, Stephen (Karen) Treadwell and Keith Treadwell. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Chester was a dedicated, hardworking husband and father.

Shortly before Chester turned thirteen in 1933, his father died, leaving behind a widow and nine children in the midst of the Depression. Being the oldest son, he went to work at a stave mill to help support his mother and siblings. He walked from Morning Star to what is now Zack, worked a 10-hour shift for wages of .15 cents per hour, and then walked home.
When the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) was enacted, he went to work building roads in Newton County and also helped build the old Marshall gymnasium that is still in use. He earned $30.00 per month, plus room and board, with the CCC. He kept $5.00 for himself and sent $25.00 a month home to his widowed mother. At one time they lost their farm home due to delinquent taxes, but it was redeemed back from the state with the money he sent home.
On March 19, 1942, Chester entered the U.S. Army during WWII. Home on a family medical furlough, he married his longtime sweetheart, Violet Freeman on May 9, 1942. Before being shipped overseas, Violet joined him when he was stationed in Amarillo and Delhart, Texas. On December 5, 1943, he was deployed to Europe leaving behind his seven-month expectant wife. On January 10, 1944, their first child, Chester Larry was born. It was one year and nine months later before Chester would see his firstborn son. He spent the winter of 1944 in England, preparing for the D-Day Invasion. On June 7, 1944, the second day of the D-Day Invasion, Chester landed on the shores of Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. He was a truck driver with the 15th AAF Photo Reconnaissance Group attached to General Patton's 3rd Army. On June 27, 2016 (this year), he, along with eleven more Arkansas WWII veterans, received the highest French honor, Knight of the French Legion of Honor Award at the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock. A consulate from France presented the awards for their service in liberating France from German occupation during WWII.
When Chester returned home from the war, he worked as a sheet-rocker, farmer, truck driver during the construction of Bull Shoals Dam, and sawmiller. He owned and operated his own sawmill, and the Treadwell and Sons sawmill is still in operation and run by his son, Ronnie and grandson, Nathan. Chester spent his last year in the loving care of the staff at Ozark Health Nursing Home in Clinton, Arkansas, where he passed away. He will be laid to rest in Red Hill Cemetery beside his beloved wife, Violet. He will be deeply missed.

Funeral services for Chester will be 2:00 PM Sunday, September 18th, 2016 at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Larry Treadwell and Bro. Scott Treadwell officiating. Visitation will be 6:00 till 8:00 PM Saturday, September 17th, 2016 in the Chapel.
Pallbearers will be Nathan Treadwell, Ronnie Treadwell, Stephen Treadwell, Keith Treadwell, Jim Griffin, Ryan Treadwell, Paul Treadwell and Jonathan Griffin.
In lieu of flowers at the families request please make a donation to the Searcy County Memorial Veterans Building Fund or to Ozark Health Nursing and Rehab in Clinton. If you would like to bring a small memorial flag to the visitation the family will place it on his grave at the interment.

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