William Lester Shuffield

William Lester Shuffield, 89, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Conway, Ark. and Jackson, Tenn., passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2012. His wife of 70 years, Vy Shuffield, and his family were by his side. Les and Vy moved to Orlando in 2005, where they lived in their own home until this past summer, when they moved into the Mayflower Retirement Center in Winter Park. Les was born in Bismarck, Hot Spring County, Ark. on July 31, 1922 to Arvil Lee and Fannie Williams Shuffield. He and his wife, Viceil Allen, were married on Christmas Eve 1941. After graduating from Bismarck High School, he attended Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Ark. After a short stint teaching, he began his 40-year career with the J.C. Penney Co. in Malvern, Ark. in August 1942, but only worked for four months before being called into military service. During World War II, he was a member of the U.S. Army 363rd Field Artillery Battalion, taking part in the Leyte Island, Okinawa and Philippine campaigns. After the war ended, he returned to Malvern in 1946, where he resumed his management training position, continuing to work for Penney's over the next 36 years in five different states, serving as manager of stores in Ruston, La., Bowling Green, Ky. and Jackson, Tenn. He retired in July 1982 and relocated from Jackson to Conway in July 1993. He was an admirer of James Cash Penney and his "golden rule" belief of service and honor upon which the company was built. Les took to heart one of Mr. Penney's foundational beliefs: "Unless our store managers know their communities and unless they are prepared to enter sympathetically into community life, they cannot make a success of their stores." He thoroughly enjoyed the "Penney family" and treasured countless friendships with those whom he had worked. He and Vy shared a pride of each community where they lived. The first commitment that they made upon moving to a new city was to plant their family in the local Baptist church. They were actively involved in six Baptist churches in the various cities where they lived. Les was ordained as a deacon in 1960 at the First Baptist Church of Ruston. In addition, he was honored in 1973 by the West Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America with the "Silver Beaver" award for his community service to scouting. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Vy and their two sons and their families, Charles Shuffield (Karen) of Orlando, Fla. and Ron Shuffield (Anita) of Miami, Fla. His five grandchildren, whom he adored, are Mary Beth Figueroa (Eric) of Orlando, Melissa Shuffield of Orlando, C. Kay Shuffield of Orlando, Allison Shuffield of Washington, D.C. and Scott Shuffield of Miami. And, his newest joy, Reese Figueroa, is his two-year-old great-granddaughter. Also saddened are his brother, Arvin Shuffield (Delores) of Donalson, Ark. and sister-in-law, Hilda Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark. He was preceded in death by his mother (1986) and father (1992), a sister, Ester (1924) and a brother, E.T. (2008). The family will receive friends from 10:30 - 12 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Ark. (870-246-4551), with a service immediately following in the funeral home chapel at 12 p.m., led by Dr. Dale Wicker, Pastor of Conway's First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at DeRoche Cemetary, 939 Hwy. 128, Bismarck, Ark. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the Caney Baptist Church Building Fund, 4118 Hwy. 128, Bismarck, Ark. 71929 (501-865-3154). Sign on line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com.