Delford Ernest Rieff

Delford Ernest Rieff

99, a resident of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, passed away February 1, 2009 at the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born October 2, 1909 near Strickler, Arkansas, the son of Clint Wade and Eunice McBride Rieff.

Delford married Mamie Edmiston on June 27, 1935. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Prairie Grove where he was a trustee and past treasurer. He was associated with The Farmers and Merchants Bank from 1929 until 1992, served as president from 1946 until 1984, and was chairman of the Board of Directors from 1984 until 1992. He was past Prairie Grove City Treasurer and City Council member for thirty years. He served as a member of Prairie Grove School Board, Washington County Fair Board, Washington County Democrat Central Committee, Washington County Election Commission, Masonic Lodge Number 436, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Fort Smith, Shriners International, Washington County Soil Conservation, Arkansas Industrial Development Commission and Prairie Grove Battlefield Park Commission. For twenty years he served on the Washington County Hospital Board and was a charter member of Prairie Grove Lions Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mamie, three sisters, Alice Baker, Bessie McKnight and Jewell McNeeley, and one brother, Arvil Wade Rieff.

Survivors include one son, James C. “Jim” Rieff and his wife Susan of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; two granddaughters, Leslie Fitzgerald and her husband Pat of Carl Junction, Missouri, and Barbara "Boo" Edmiston and her husband Steve of Prairie Grove, Arkansas and four great-grandchildren, Parker and Kennedy Fitzgerald, Alex and Cole Edmiston.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Prairie Grove Library - P.O. Box 10 - Prairie Grove, AR 72753 or Life Ministries - P.O. Box 536 - Prairie Grove, AR 72753 or Prairie Grove Cemetery - 751 East Parks - Prairie Grove, AR 72753.

The visitation will be Tuesday, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove.

Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Interment will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The complete obituary may be viewed on the Luginbuel Web Page. To sign the online guest book, visit www.luginbuel.com