James Dean Walton of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the age of 85. He was born November 22, 1939, in the Sandhill community of Auvergne, the son of John A., Sr. and Evelyn Deborah (Roberts) Walton.
Mr. Walton was a 1957 graduate of Newport High School. He attended Harding University, majoring in accounting, and left college in 1961 to join the Air Force and proudly serve his country in Vietnam. He returned home to work on the family farm for over twenty years. In 1983, he began working as a truck driver for Walmart, and after twenty-four years, he retired in 2007. He also served as the Secretary and Treasurer of Sandhill Cemetery since 2013. Mr. Walton was a devoted member of Sandhill Church of Christ, where he was the song leader and also taught youth classes.
Mr. Walton enjoyed riding motorcycles, being a pilot, and tinkering with electronics. He loved music of all genres and especially enjoyed traveling to warmer places in his motorhome. Mr. Walton’s greatest joy in life was his family and he cherished the time he spent with them.
Mr. Walton was preceded in death by his son, James D. “Jimmy” Walton; two brothers, John A. Walton, Jr. and Dale Owen Walton; a sister, Barbara Ann May; his son-in-law, Johnny Terrell; and his parents.
He is survived by his wife of nine years, Ann (Turner) Walton, of the home; two daughters, Terry Terrell of Jonesboro and Kendra Adair and husband, Rob, of Bentonville; his stepchildren, Monty Gammill and wife, Becky, of McRae, Kim Bradley and husband, Paul, of Bentonville, Wendy Mann and husband, Scott, of Bella Vista, Tracy Guinn and husband, Bruce, of Bella Vista, Bobby Clausen and wife, Tammie, of Tuckerman, Becky Clausen Cloud of Tuckerman, Leslie Clausen Tinsley of Newport, and Kimberly Clausen Cornwall of Newport; three sisters, Juanita Pitts of Bella Vista, Peggy Reid and husband, Dickey, of Sandhill, and Kathy Walker and husband, Gary, of Lubbock, Texas; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; his dog, Tasha; and a lifetime of friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Jackson’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Mr. Mike Campbell officiating. The interment will be in Sandhill Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home Tuesday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. until service time.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Christopher Terrell, John Terrell, David Terrell, Jeremy Terrell, John Miller, Rob Clausen, and Ryder Brunner. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Sandhill Church of Christ.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
