of Batesville, AR
January 18, 1927 - January 5, 2011
Loyd Leftwich, 83, of Batesville, died Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at White River Medical Center.
He was born Tuesday, January 18, 1927 in Ash Flat, Arkansas and was the son of Joe Marshall and Beulah (Estes) Leftwich.
Loyd played baseball and basketball at Ash Flat High School where he honed his skills to be a pitcher on the Ash Flat baseball team. Dr. Charles Taylor coached him in basketball at Ash Flat where the team won second place in the state tournament in 1946-47. Loyd was a big baseball fan and was friends with and a rival of the late ''Preacher'' Rowe who gave him the advice he needed to be a winning pitcher and who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Loyd even out- pitched ''Preacher'' on at least one occasion. He grew up is rural Sharp County between Agnos and Ash Flat, and learned early the work ethic necessary to have a career as an x-ray technician. He served his country in the First Army Division and was stationed in Germany following World War II where his unit searched for members of the Nazi's who had gone into hiding. Following his service in the Army, he came back home to Arkansas and married Vineda Taylor of Mammoth Springs, Arkansas on October 25, 1947. They moved to Little Rock where Loyd graduated from UAMS School of Radiology. After receiving his degree, they moved to Texarkana where he worked in a Doctor's clinic, but soon felt they were too far from home and moved back to Batesville where he worked for the North Arkansas Clinic Hospital and Medical Arts Building for a total of 48 years and he was a perfectionist in x-rays. Loyd was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Society of Radiological Technologists, and a past president of the Batesville Booster Club. He loved to garden, hunt, fish, and he used to train bird dogs. Loyd was a big booster of youth athletics and enjoyed watching sports. He was a member of West Baptist Church where he was active in Sunday School in his younger days.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Vineda (Taylor) Leftwich, one son: Don Leftwich and his wife, Sylvia of Batesville; one brother: Richard Leftwich of Gravel Ridge, Arkansas; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Darlene Leftwich and a brother, Rayburn Leftwich.
Pallbearers will be John Loseman, Joe Pilot, Keith Leftwich, Brian Welter, Paul Dean Lamon, and Gary Rice. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Charles Taylor, Dr. Jim Lytle, Dr. Charles McClain, Dr. Robert Walton, Dr. Lloyd Bess, Robert Ford, Jr., Malcolm Ford, and Andy Buschmann.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Patrick Hancock officiating. Burial will follow the services at Wiles Cemetery in Ash Flat under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Sign Guestbook
13 Condolence(s)
Faye Howard Fulton
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Don, I was so sorry to hear about Loyd. I always enjoyed the few times he came by to visit. May God Bless you and your family.
Lance Holman
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Don,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Grant Williams
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Dear Donald,
I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. I remember how he enjoyed coaching and pulling for us when we were playing baseball as kids. Now we have good memories left in place of our parents. My mom and dad are both gone now too. May God bless you.
Grant Williams
Brian Bowser
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Don, sorry to hear about your father, my condolences to you and your family.
Carrol McBride
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don
I was sorry to hear of Lloyd's passing. He will be missed greatly. My deepest sympathy.
Carrol McBride
Judy Gunter Altom
Friday, January 7, 2011
I can remember Mr. Loyd as a child and he was working long after I married He was a very nice man who was great in his profession. My thoughts are with you at this time.
James & Colleen Ford
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don, sorry to hear about your dad. praying for your strength during the hard days ahead.
Tracy McKnight
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don, I am sorry for your loss. Although I really didn't know your father, I felt a kinship with him through our shared profession. Mr Leftwich was well thought and spoken of in our community and he will be missed. Your family is in our prayers.
Jody Lambert
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don, I was sorry to hear about the death of your Father. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Jody Lambert
Candace Stamm
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. I will pray for comfort and peace as you go through this difficult time.
Allen Phroper
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don:
On behalf of myself and the staff of Roller Coffman/Crouch, we send our sincerest condolences.
Allen Phroper
Carolyn & J.W. Wammack
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Don and Sylvia, we are sorry to hear about Mr. :Leftwich. He will be remembered as a wonderful man who always had a smile. My God be with you and your family during this difficult time. You are in our prayers.
Anthony Vittoria
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Don, I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.