Ben G. Sandefur

Ben G. Sandefur, 81, a long-time resident of Texarkana, Texas died peacefully November 9, 2018, in Texarkana under the care of Hospice and after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Benny George Sandefur was born July 15, 1937, in Mineola, TX to George and Audrey Sandefur. He grew up in Mount Pleasant, TX where he graduated high school in 1955. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin and pledged Kappa Alpha where he served as an officer. During college, he met, and in 1959 married, the love of his life, Austin native Nancy Dill Sandefur, and soon thereafter graduated with a business degree. Ben spent an additional year at UT working towards his master's degree, but upon the arrival of son Michael, decided to accept a position with the CPA firm of Peat Marwick Mitchell in Dallas in late 1960. He earned his CPA certificate and traveled doing audit work. The family spent the next 5 years in Dallas and grew with the addition of Gregory and Jeffrey. In 1965, the family of five moved to Texarkana when Ben accepted the position of auditor at State First National Bank (one of his Peat Marwick clients) and started work in September. From that time, he began his remarkable advancement, becoming president in 1977 and Chairman and CEO in 1980. As CEO, he negotiated the first inter-state bank merger in Texas. Ben also served terms as Chairman of the Arkansas Association of Bank Holding Companies. Ben and Nancy were very engaged in supporting the Texarkana community. Ben was elected and asked to serve in several leadership positions including President of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board of Trustees of Texarkana College, Board member of the Texarkana College Foundation, Chairman of United Way, Charter President of the Volunteer Services Bureau, Board member of Leadership Texarkana, Board member of St. Michaels Hospital Foundation, Board Member of the Boys Club of Texarkana, and Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign for the Bunch-Woodview Alzheimer's Center. Ben was the first non-lawyer appointed to the State Bar Grievance Committee for this region. He also served on other boards and committees, local and statewide, too numerous to count. He was a deacon of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and later a member of First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas. Ben and Nancy were greatly honored by the community as the winners of the C.E. Palmer Award in 1988. Ben was very proud of his position as "Money-Changer," (the Treasurer) of the Holly Mound Hunting Club. He and Nancy loved "The Cabin," where he spent much of his free time with his friends and comrades "telling lies and polishing bullets." Ben will be remembered for his morning toast, "Here's to the ducks on the strap, and here's to the ducks to come!" Ben and Nancy loved to travel and did so extensively, with cruises, casino junkets, and months in Colorado. They also delighted in dancing, and together won several jitterbug contests. He enjoyed his classmates at Mt. Pleasant High School and helped coordinate their regular and well-attended reunions. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 59 years, Nancy Sandefur, his brother, Jerry Ray Sandefur, and his daughter-in-law, Cindy Sandefur. Survivors include three sons, Michael R. (Vicky) Sandefur of Texarkana, Gregory C. Sandefur of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Jeffrey A. (Terri) Sandefur of Texarkana, six grandchildren—Ray (Joy) Sandefur, Clay Sandefur, Sid Sandefur, Audrey Sandefur, Ned Sandefur, and Katherine Sandefur, all of Texarkana, a new great-grandchild, Emma Grace Sandefur, one nephew, Jerry William Sandefur of Colorado, and a host of family and friends. The entire Sandefur family would like to thank the tremendous caregivers at Bunch Woodview, Cornerstone Retirement Community, and Hospice of Texarkana. Memorials may be made to the Texarkana College Foundation, The Alzheimer's Alliance, or Hospice of Texarkana. A private family interment will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Park. A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church. Online registration at www.texarkanafuneralhome.com.