Jack David Almond, known to his friends as “J.D.” and to his girls as “Papaw”, passed away Monday, August 5, 2019 in Alma. He was born March 25, 1943 in Charleston to the late William B. and Daisy P. Almond. In his younger days, he lived in Mulberry, where he graduated high school in 1961. He helped his parents by working at their diner and in the fields. After high school, J.D. went to work for Schlumberger were he retired after 35 years. In 1966, he moved his family to Farmington, NM for his work in the oil field. In 1979, he was transferred back to Fort Smith, where he and his wife Betty bought a house with 10 acres where they had cows, chickens, horses, and a pond. He loved to fish and won several fishing tournaments at Shoal Bay; he also loved to hunt. If you needed him in the fall, you would find him at the deer woods in Cecil. He was a long-time member of Faith Baptist Church in Jenny Lind and helped on the building committee with the expansion of the sanctuary. He also served as a deacon. When it came to his girls, well they could not have asked for a better Papaw. He loved to take them for ice cream, snow cones, cheeseburgers from Ed Walkers, and anything else their little hearts desired.
He was preceded in death by his son, David K. Almond; two brothers, Earl and Jerry Almond; and a sister, Carolyn Kelly.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty J. Almond of the home; a daughter, Karen McDonald and husband Danny; two granddaughters, Amanda McDonald and husband Alex McFeeters, and Sarah Efurd and husband Madison; and three great-granddaughters, Bailey and Presley Efurd, and Anabeth McDonald.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 9, 2019 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Cecil Cemetery in Cecil, AR, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 8, 2019, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.
