James Eastburn

Dr. James R. Eastburn, 80, of Hot Springs, went to meet his Heavenly Father on September 30, 2012. He was born on October 31, 1931 in Fairfield, Iowa to the late J.M. and Esther Eastburn. Jim graduated from Lakeside High School in 1949 and then attended Southern State University on a band and choir scholarship. He joined the Navy after his first year of college and while in the Navy he became a Dental Technician and served for two years at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. After being discharged from the Navy, he married his childhood sweetheart, Bettye Terry in September 1952. He continued his education at Memphis State University and was accepted at the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry. He graduated in June 1960 and opened his dental office in Hot Springs in September of the same year. During his years of active practice of Dentistry he was past president of the Garland County Dental Society. At the state level he served on the Ethics Committee and was a past board member and chairman of the board of Directors of the School of Dental Hygiene. He was a member of the Arkansas State Dental Association, associate member of the American Academy of Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics. In October of 1986 he was invited to receive a Fellowship in the American College of Dentists. He practiced the profession he loved for 52 years and retired in August 2012. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church, a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class and past member of the church board. He was predeceased by his parents, one son, Rick E. Eastburn and his brother, John David Eastburn. He is survived by his wife, Bettye Eastburn, one son, Ron Eastburn, his brother and sister-in-law, Charles (Chuck) and Nina Eastburn, five grandchildren, Jennifer Goodman and husband, Chris, Christopher Eastburn, Preston, Brooke and Allie Eastburn, four great grandchildren, Haley and Christopher Richard Eastburn, and Grace and Lauren Goodman and several nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him dearly. Graveside services will be at 9:00 A.M. Thursday at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dr. John Haggard, Don Schnipper, Lindell Trimble, Jack Copeman, Ted Carrithers and Dr. Jack Porter. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Tim Webb, Walter Ebel, Friendship Sunday School Class and Garland County Dental Society. Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday at First United Methodist Church with Reverends Michael Mattox, Zach Roberts and David Wilson officiating. Viewing will be Wednesday from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Hot Springs Funeral Home.