of Conway, AR

October 27, 1930 - September 10, 2025

Dr. Arvil Wesley Burks, age 94, of Conway, Arkansas died Wednesday, September 10 in Conway. He was married to Janet Parks Burks for 72 years.

Born on October 27, 1930, in Jamestown, Arkansas, Arvil was the son of Marshall Burks and Ura (McCulloch) Burks. He was a longtime and dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church of Conway, serving as an elder, deacon, and treasurer for many years.

Arvil and his twin brother, Arvie Ellis Burks, graduated from Batesville High School in 1949, where they excelled on the basketball team and were later inducted into the Independence County Sports Hall of Fame. His lifelong passion for sports, particularly basketball and golf, was nurtured from a young age.

Arvil graduated from Arkansas College (now Lyon College), where he met and fell in love with fellow first-generation college student Janet Parks. He was later honored with the Lyon College Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Arvil and Janet were married in 1953, and soon thereafter began a remarkable career of education, coaching, and service. He started coaching high school basketball in Heber Springs. He went on to coach at the College of the Ozarks for several years, as well as Drury College. Some of his fondest memories came from his teams of this time. He obtained his doctorate in education at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in 1966.

From 1966 to 1993, Arvil was a Professor at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), where he founded the Health Education degree program. He proudly mentored and taught generations of students, who went on to educate countless others. In 2010, he was inducted into the UCA Sports of Hall Fame for his service as the Faculty-Athletic Representative at UCA. Notably, he had fourteen holes-in-one in a lifetime of golf.

Arvil was deeply devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren, for whom he was a constant, loving presence. He was also particularly proud of the many summers he and Janet spent traveling to rural schools to present their ''Growing Healthy'' program, which provided training for schools without a health teacher.

Arvil is survived by his wife, Janet Parks Burks; his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Wesley Burks and Jan Burks of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; his daughter, Susan Burks of Conway; and his grandchildren, Chris Burks, Sarah Burks Moore, and Collin Burks. He was predeceased by nine siblings and was the last of a large and loving family.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 19, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church in Conway. Memorials may be made to the ''Arvil Burks Scholarship Fund,'' UCA Box 4986, 201 Donaghey Ave. Conway, Ark., 72034 or to the First Presbyterian Church of Conway Building Fund, 2400 Prince St, Conway, AR 72034.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
650 Central Landing Blvd.
Conway, AR  72032
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com