Harold Dee "Dusty" Lansdale

Harold Dee "Dusty" Lansdale passed away in hospice care on Memorial Day, May 27th, 2024, at age 100. Dusty was born in Tyler Texas on April 4th, 1924, to Ike and Mary "Marie" Wiley/Lansdale. He grew up in Fordyce Arkansas, graduated from Fordyce high school, and was a football and track Redbug. He was proud of being recently acknowledged as the oldest living Redbug football player in history. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, in the south pacific on the battleship USS Maryland. He was honorably discharged in 1944 and was the recipient of eight battle stars.
After returning home from the war, he attended Arkansas A and M College, now UAM in Monticello, where he played football for the Bollweevils Dusty owned and operated Lansdale Electric Company and Russell Sheetmetal in Fordyce for over thirty years. He retired from the United States Army National Guard. After retirement, his loves were traveling with his wife, cheering for the Redbugs and Arkansas Razorbacks and raising a garden full of vegetables to give away to friends and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Fordyce and served as a deacon.
He was a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Masonic Lodge 363 He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Marie Bowman/Lansdale, his younger daughter Lyn, and two sisters, Juanita Turner and Delain Hornaday. He is survived by his wife Sybil Hearnsberger/ Lansdale, daughter Connee Ellis (Mike) of Hot Springs, three grandchildren, Marjoree "Ree" Hamilton (Gabe) of North Little Rock, Jayson and Adam Craft of Louisiana, great granddaughter Keegan Craft of Chattanooga Tennessee, and special friends Brian Emmerson, Wendy and Jeff Graschel, and Kari and David Ledbetter.
The family would like to thank caregivers, Charlotte Brinkley, Caroline Crews, Carla Intessimone, Gene Ables, Ruthie Burnett, and Hospice Care. Memorials may be made to First Baptist church in Fordyce, Stony Point Cemetery, or Fordyce Redbug Alumni Association. Private Burial was at Stoney Point Cemetery under direction of Benton Funeral Home. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net .