James Clark Irwin

James Clark Irwin

76, a resident of Springdale, Arkansas, went to be with his Lord Sunday, April 11, 2004 at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born June 22, 1927 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the son of Clyde and Pauline Clark Irwin of Clyde, Arkansas.

James grew up on the family farm in Clyde, Arkansas, and at the age of 14, his father died and James became the primary caretaker of his mother and the family farm. He attended school at Cane Hill, where he graduated in 1944. He spent one year at the University of Arkansas before leaving to serve two years in the United States Army. He returned to the University of Arkansas in February 1947 and received a Bachelors degree in Agriculture Education and later received a Master's Degree in 1951.

He married Wanda Karnes on December 26, 1949 and moved to Prairie Grove and opened the first Vocational Agriculture Program. He later taught school at Morrow and Lincoln before moving to Springdale in July 1960 to work for Tyson Foods. He retired there in 1982 due to health problems.

As well as teaching and working in the poultry industry, James served nineteen years on the Springdale City Council, served on many County, City and Church Committees including: Farmers Housing Board in the 1960's, Springdale City Airport - building terminal there, Washington County Rural Water Program - getting city water to rural people, Northwest Regional Airport Authority from 1998-2004, Chamber of Commerce in both Lincoln and Springdale, Kiwanis Club in Lincoln and Springdale, Restoration Committee for the Cane Hill College, and The Washington County Education Committee.

In 1948, James joined the Prairie Grove Presbyterian Church, Cane Hill Presbyterian Church in 1952, Springdale Presbyterian Church in 1960 and the First United Methodist Church in Springdale, Arkansas, in 1980.

James loved his children and grandchildren, and he especially loved teasing them.

His greatest interest was his farm family. He loved to tell his grandchildren that they would be the sixth generation to own the family farm that was homesteaded in 1847 by Pless and Mary Carter. The poem that best describes his love for land is "I Am Land."

James also enjoyed Finance and Investments. He became director at Bank of Fayetteville from 1986-2001 and was noted for financial advise to committees he served. He enjoyed all levels of politics and sincerely believed in anything that could improve city, state or national government and believed in letting it be known - particularly through his coffee shop buddies.

James is survived by his wife of 54 years, Wanda Karnes Irwin of the home; two sons and daughters in law, Jim and Judy Irwin of Little Rock, Arkansas; Clark and Georgi Irwin of Springdale, Arkansas; one daughter, Paula Irwin of Springdale, Arkansas; six grandchildren, J. Clark Irwin, Jill Penick and her husband Ted, Carrie and Lauren Irwin, and Hannah and Hailey Herdlinger.