Buford 'Arkie' Vinson

Buford “Arkie” Vinson, 87, of Martensdale, died June 13, 2016 at the Kavanaugh House on 56th St. in Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, with family present to receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 16, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, with burial to follow at the St. Charles Cemetery near St. Charles. Memorials may be directed to the family and online condolences may be left at ochiltree.com. Buford Junior Vinson son of, Rellis and Ellen (Samuels) Vinson, was born on August 15, 1928, in Roseville, Arkansas. He attended rural schools in the Oak Bend area. Buford served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1948 when he was honorably discharged. Buford was united in marriage with Melva Slater on November 22, 1957, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and three children were born to this union. He believed in hard work and started picking cotton at a young age and later drove a truck for a number of years. Buford worked as a large machine operator for Penn Dixie Quarry for over 20 years. He also farmed in Madison County during this time. Buford retired in 1982 and the couple moved to Ratcliff, AR. They moved back to be closer to family in 2010. He was a member of the Oak Bend Baptist Church in Ozark, Arkansas and was a founding member of the Madison County Coon Hunters Association. Buford loved to hunt, fish (especially Catfish) and play poker. He enjoyed his sweet tea and tending to his garden and the couple would can the produce. Buford liked watching birds later in life. Above all else, he was a loyal husband, father and grandfather who cherished the time spent with his family and friends. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Melva Vinson of Martensdale; three children, Jim (Maria) Vinson of Villa Rica, GA; Lori Jacobs of St. Charles; Donna (Randy) Piper of Indianola; three sisters, Barbara Nixon of Garland, TX; Betty Jo Hill of St. Cloud, FL; Mary (Mitchell) Long of Alma, AR; seven grandchildren, Bryan, Brad, Jared, Wesley, Kristine, Casandra and Mathew; four great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son in law Ron Jacobs.