Ronald V. Whitmire, age 78, of Strawberry died Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at his home. He was born July 24, 1943, in Cord, Arkansas. He was the son of Vestern “Dutch” and Velma Long Whitmire. He was a lifelong farmer and carpenter. He loved to go for a drive, loaf at the coffee shop, and had a lasting passion for foundation Quarter Horses. He was a loving husband, dad brother, uncle and friend, but most of all he was the best Papaw to all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Sue Whitmire of the home; three daughters, Becky Saffell and husband Ronald of Saffell, Angie Adams and husband Wendell of Charlotte, and Ashley Holder and husband Shane of Strawberry; nine grandchildren, Whitney Jones and husband Tad of Cave City, Haley Fowler and husband Joe of Strawberry, Sarah Saffell of Saffell, Ty Holder of Strawberry, Cassidy Holder of Strawberry, Bobbye Sue Adams of Charlotte, Maggye Adams of Charlotte, Blakelye Adams of Charlotte, and Stetson Holder of Strawberry; five great-grandchildren, Annie Jones, J.B. Fowler, Jameson Fowler, Mahaylalee Fowler, and Tadrick Jones; one step-sister, Patsy Grissom, and a host of other family and friends.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Jean Bennett and Beverly Mason; one brother, Mike Whitmire; one nephew Roger Bennett, and mother and father-in-law O.J. and Brownie Brewer.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Mt. Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Saffell with Bro. Curt Howard, Bro. Mitch Bell, and Bro. Greg Tucker officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until the time of service. Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery located at Dowdy with arrangements made by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
Pallbearers will be Ty Holder, Stetson Holder, Shane Holder, Ronald Saffell, Wendell Adams, Joe Fowler, Tad Jones, Scott Whitmire, and Craig Whitmire.
Honorary pallbearers are Bo Small, Tanner Harris, Corbyn Marshall, Jackie Crews, Frank Fowler, Rick Clem, Randall Northcutt, Randy Richey, and Gerald Provence.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mt. Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, 450 Hwy. 25, Saffell, AR 72572 or Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202.
