Ernest Pfeifer

Ernest E. Pfeifer age 94 of Dardanelle died Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at Atkins Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born Nov. 29, 1922 to the late Van and Francis Pfeifer. He was a member of the Dardanelle FFA until 1940, he graduated Dardanelle High School in 1941 and his first job was with Sugar Creek Creamery. Feb. 18, 1943 he enlisted in the Navy. He was trained as fire control man 2nd class with a rank of petty officer. He was assigned to U.S.S. John M. Bermingham DE 530 with a total crew of 215 members, with all but six members being deceased. Ernest was one of the six plank members. The ship at that time patrolled the north Atlantic and also the Mediterranean, porting in Oran, Algeria frequently. After his honorable discharge on March 6, 1946, Ernest decided to use his G.I. Bill to pursue a college education. He was the first in his family to accomplish this. First he entered Arkansas Tech and graduated in 1948, the he went to the University of Arkansas where he became a member of the Alpha Zeta Fraternity. He graduated in 1950 with a Master's Degree in Agri-Business. He also attended Arkansas Cotton School in Little Rock and Memphis School of Cotton Grading. His first practice teaching job was in Dover, Ark. After graduation he formed and founded Eureka Egg Farm, brand name of Valley Supreme Eggs. Federal permits for all North West Arkansas and east Oklahoma, expanded the Dardanelle Office branch in 1970 and the Fort Smith Office with his brother Clem Pfeifer. Dardanelle Mayor Merritt appointed Ernest to serve as chairman of the Water and Sewer Commission and the City Planning Commission. He was a Charter member of the Bay Ridge Boat and Golf Club Inc. Ernest paid his son James's way through college working as a USDA Inspector and also Paul's college, ASTC, University of Arkansas and University of Tennessee Medical in Memphis. Ernest was always there to help! Here are just a few examples of his kindness and willingness to help others: After high school his son James and his classmate James Lee Witt were making a trip to Colorado to work for the summer when they had a blowout. They were unable to continue on to Colorado or back to Arkansas so Ernest promptly sent money for the tire repair to get them back on the road. Paul was returning to Memphis after a home visit and his car broke down in Little Rock. Ernest sent a car to Little Rock on Robert Keenan's Truck for Paul to drive on to Memphis and brought his car home to Dardanelle to be repaired. Ernest always planted a garden and flowers, a large strawberry patch, fruit and pecan trees and had a running and usable Farmall Tractor. He loved to hunt and fish and had an antique wooden canoe in perfect condition. Ernest was an avid supporter of the University of Arkansas and the Razorbacks and for many years had season tickets to football games. He also made many trips to Hot Springs to attend the horse races. Ernest will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. Arrangements By Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle.