Alvin Dexter "A.D." Arnhart

Surrounded by his family, Alvis Dexter “A. D.” Arnhart, 99, formerly of Jackson, passed away Monday, October 8, 2018, at the home of his daughter in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

A.D. was born Jan 13, 1919, in Archey, Arkansas, to James Dexter “J.D.” and Dexter Leona Cooper Arnhart.  A.D’s mother died when he was two years old.  His father later married Rose Couch Arnhart, and the family settled in Lonoke, Arkansas.

A.D. graduated from Lonoke High School and attended Arkansas A.M in Monticello, Arkansas, for two years.  He transferred to the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

A.D. and Nina Ruth Stark, of Bellefonte, Arkansas, were married June 8, 1941.  They had been married 73 years when Nina passed away December 29, 2014. 

A.D. worked two years with the Farm Security Administration in Newport, Arkansas.  The bombing of Pearl Harbor compelled him to enlist in the U.S. Navy Coast Guard.  He attended the Wartime Coast Guard Institute in Groton, Connecticut, and served as a Commanding Officer of a Coast Guard Cutter, which was part of the Coast Guard Rescue Flotilla preforming rescue operations on D-Day.  A.D. and his crew rescued 20 survivors on a burning munitions LTC off Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.

After the war, A.D began his career with the University of Missouri Extension Division. He was appointed Assistant County Agent at large in March of 1946. In June of that same year, he was appointed County Agent in Ripley County, Missouri.  He transferred to Cape Girardeau County as County Agent in June 1947, later becoming the Cape County Extension Director. During this time, A.D did graduate work in Extension, at the Colorado State University at Fort Collins. He later received his Master’s Degree in Extension Education, from the University of Missouri, Columbia. In 1969, he became Area Director of the Extension Service over a seven- county area and remained in this position until his retirement as Area Director in 1976.     

A.D.’s memberships and affiliations include longtime member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson; Jackson Rotary Club (a Paul Harris Fellow); and the SEMO Fair Board.  For his service in the Fields of Agriculture and Rural-Urban Understanding in Cape Girardeau County, he earned the Distinguished Service Award by the Missouri Association of County Agricultural Agents, received a Certificate for Distinguished Service presented by the Soil and Water Conservation District of Cape Girardeau County, and was recognized by the National Honorary Extension Fraternity and Epsilon Sigma Phi for Top District Extension Activity.

A.D was deeply loved by both family and friends.  He was devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren.  He enjoyed trout fishing on the Norfork and White Rivers in Arkansas, playing golf with his friends, and traveling the country in the family camping trailer. He was an avid Arkansas Razorback football fan.  During recent years, he lived with his daughter, and family in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Loving survivors include a daughter, Linda and (Bill) Curl of Simpsonville, three grandchildren, Jon (Kelley) Curl of Greer, South Carolina, Joe Curl of Simpsonville. South Carolina, and Katie (Brian) Gural of Greer, South Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Stark Curl, and Simeon, Caleb, and Hannah Gural of Greer; and special friends and neighbors, Larry and Carol Morie of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nina Arnhart, his father, mother, step-mother, a step- brother, Thomas Couch, and a half brother, John Arnhart.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, October 12, 2018, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral is at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 13, 2018, at the funeral home, with the Revs. Jimmie Corbin and Bryan Wendling officiating.  Words of committal and military honors will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to New McKendree United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.