of Mountain Home, AR

October 26, 1941 - October 13, 2025

David T. Sward passed away at home on October 13, 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Visitation will be on Sunday, November 23rd from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm at Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

David was born on October 26, 1941 in Stuttgart, Arkansas to the late Cliff and Alice Sward. As a young boy, he joined the Boy Scouts, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1959 with a strong ambition to become a doctor.

He pursued a biology degree at Arkansas State University and was admitted after his junior year to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. At age 20, he wasn't quite ready for the rigor of medical school. He left med school and began training as a Medical Technologist at UAMS, where he met Carol Alvis, who was also a med-tech student. They were married on August 23, 1964. David returned to UAMS, where he obtained his medical degree in 1969.

That same year, David joined the Air Force Senior Program as a senior medical student. Following his internship at St. John's in Tulsa, he served 3 years as a Flight Surgeon. During this period, the family moved several times, with David eventually being stationed in Phoenix. He clocked 400 hours in the F-4 Phantom fighter jet, was privileged to tour with the Air Force Thunderbirds and reached the rank of Major.

The family returned to Little Rock in 1972 where David became an Orthopedic resident at UAMS for three years, then spent two years on staff. In 1978, the family moved to Mountain Home for David to establish the White River Orthopedic Clinic, the only orthopedic surgeon in a 50-mile radius. He helped establish the Medical Explorers and influenced several high schoolers to become physicians. He kept his practice until 2000, when he was lured away to be the Chief of Orthopedics, teaching residents at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Little Rock. David was extremely proud to serve his country for 20 years.

Being raised in the duck hunting capital of the world, David was devoted to the sport and related conservation. He helped establish the Mountain Home Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, relished his hunts with friends and family far and wide and collected an amazing assortment of rare duck calls. Hunting also compelled him to obtain the first of the family's several beloved Labrador Retrievers.

In 1981, David and Carol bought their farm, initially thinking he could simply ''run a few cows to keep the grass down'', but he was never one to do anything halfway. David went on to raise hundreds of Texas Longhorns (with a lot of help from Mike Bradshaw) and became a board member of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association.

David was a voracious reader of anything related to Arkansas or the Wild West. One of his favorite authors was Patrick McManus. Carol, Ted and Cliff loved watching him try to read McManus stories out loud, as he could never get through one without laughing so hard he cried. As a student of Arkansas history and geography, he delighted in knowing the location and a little history of just about every small town in the state.

He also loved country music, on family vacations when his boys were young, he would tell them that his tape player would not play rock and roll.

David was a lifelong student, always looking for a new adventure and trying new things. He attended Cow College, the Western College of Auctioneering and took a negotiating course in an attempt to improve his odds at negotiating with Carol.

As PapaDoc, David shared his love of cows and duck hunting with his grandchildren. Having only granddaughters at first, he loved to entertain them with stories, including Hindersnella (his take on Cinderella).

David is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Ted (Julie); grandchildren, Laney, Emma and Owen; son, Cliff (Susie); granddaughter, Sophie; sister-in-law, Donna Sward; niece, Dr. Brita (Carter) Rook; nephew, Erik (Dr. Lindsey); sister-in-law, Diane Corbett; nephew, Andy (Tammy); nieces, Jennifer (Bud) Lester and Beth (Lee) Frans; many grand nieces and nephews and two Labrador Retrievers, Kodi and Timba. He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation or Food Bank of North Central Arkansas.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller Funeral Home
Highway 5 North
Mountain Home, AR  72654
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com