BENTON — John E. Landers,

of Benton, Ark., happily joined his wife in Heaven on Friday, May 7, 2021.

John was a long time member of Sharon Baptist Church in Benton, and he was a true believer and loved the Lord with all his heart. He was a 32nd degree Master Mason.

John was born in March of 1932 in Benton, Ark., to Ralph Landers and Bernice Patterson Landers. He was an only child by birth, and lost his mother at the young age of three. He gained many brothers and sisters in his numerous aunts and uncles when he went to live with his grandparents, Virgil and Jose Landers, on River Street in the big white house that included the one and only famous “Mamie’s Store”. John was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Madine Janski Landers. He lost her as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident, and truly died of a broken heart. Always previously head down and straight ahead, when he lost Madine, he lost his will to live.

John is survived by two daughters: Dina Pinard and husband, Jim of Duluth, Ga., and Kelly Ryan and husband Greg of Benton, Ark. He is survived by one granddaughter: Dr. Kristyn Mikles and her husband, Dr. Andrew Mikles, of Fayetteville, Ark., and his four year old great-granddaughter, Kennedy Mikles.

He started his work career in the bread business at the ripe young age of thirteen, getting up early each morning and riding his bike to the Colonial Bread factory to grease pans for the loaves of bread before heading to school. Always living a little on the edge growing up, he is fortunate to have survived many of his childhood exploits, even having walked across a frozen Arkansas River as a boy. He served in the Air Force for two years before continuing in the bread business until 1976. He

retired after a thirty one year bakery career, serving in his final position as president of Rainbow Baking Company in Oklahoma City, Okla. At that time, he moved back home and joined his cousin and uncle in the car business. Together John, Steve Landers, Sr., and Bob Landers grew a hugely successful line of dealerships from a single, small used-car lot on Military Road that held about twenty-five cars at the most. God truly blessed them with success.

John’s life was filled with family and friends. He looked forward to spending his “lunch hour social” each day with his buddies at Bo’s BBQ and most recently at the Burger Shack. He loved to deer hunt, (his only hobby other than work), and it was what he looked forward to each and every November, though he blamed his youngest daughter for causing problems with her mid-November birth.

The family will celebrate John’s life and legacy with friends and family on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Ashby Funeral Home, 108 W. Narroway, Benton, with visitation at 9 a.m. and service to follow at 10 a.m. Dr. Michael Reese of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, buy some corn to fill your deer feeders or make donations to Sharon Baptist Church, 402 Shenandoah Road, Benton, Ark., 72015.

Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com