of Ponca, AR

December 28, 1930 - November 7, 2022

Ruby Dalphine "Dean" Duty, age 91, passed away on November 7, 2022, at her home in Ponca. Born December 28, 1930, at Compton (Plumlee), Arkansas to Henry M and Marie (Maybee) Villines. Dean was the 4th of 7 children that grew up during the depression. Times were hard but they were happy times with her family. Her entire 91 1/2 years were spent along the Buffalo River on one Homestead or another.

Dean met the love of her life, Bill Duty, soon after he returned from the Navy and War. She and Bill were married on November 13, 1948, by Bill's grandfather, Lester Young, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage before Bill's passing in August 2013.

Dean worked her early years at Kingston Bank for 8 years, then went to work for the Department of Health where she retired with 16 years of service. Dean loved piecing quilts, embroidering, canning, and yard work, but her most enjoyable times were spent working side by side with Bill on the farm, in the garden, and riding their beloved horses. After Bill's passing, even though she was a member of Boxley Church, she spent much of her time reading the Bible and going to church on her TV. Even though Dean and Bill had no children, they always had their dogs and horses that were treated like children and they adopted all the children in the Ponca/Boxley Valley and the surrounding area.

Dean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; four brothers, Bob (Joe) Wayman (Norma Lea), Kenneth, and Jarvis Villines and one sister, Pauline (Travis) Clark.

She is survived by one sister, Patsy (John) Fancher, and two sisters-in-law, Louise Villines and Carolyn Blackard. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends will greatly miss her.


The graveside service was at Beechwoods Cemetery on November 10, 2022, where she will rest beside Bill. Visitation was one hour before the service at 11:00 AM. Claud Williams conducted the service.

Pallbearers were Bobby Villines, Denton, Jessie, Ryan Fancher, and Conrad and Paul Villines.

Honorary pallbearers were Rodney and Gary Clark, Robert Winnat, John Fancher, Gordon Blair, Garland Matlock, David Bateman, Dustin Villines, Trudy Flud, Nathan Davidson, and all her nieces.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beechwoods Cemetery c/o Kaye House, PO Box 54, Ponca, Arkansas 72670.

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