BENTON — W. J. Lea,

age 93, of Benton, Ark., died June 27, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Geraldine (Jerry) Lea; children: Andrea Scallion (James Neff), Kyle Lea (Tammy) and Jay Lea (Lisa); 11 grandchildren: Josh Lea, Katie Lea, Cory Montrose, Monica Cole, Mackenzie Brown, Connor Lea, Marissa Hall, Caleb Lea, Amanda Lea, Dylan Lea, and Marshall Lea; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace James Lea and Mariah Mae Lea; three brothers and six sisters; and his son, Jacob Stanley Lea.

He was born in Sledge, Miss., on July 2, 1929. He is a veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War, where he earned several medals, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He entered the Army at age 17 at the end of WWII. He was eventually chosen to attend OCS and graduated with honors. He served as a military advisor to the Vietnamese during the conflict and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1972.

He attended the University of Nebraska and became an Army ROTC instructor. During that time, he also received an associate degree in Horticulture.

Above all of his many achievements in life, he will be remembered most for his active faith. He was ordained a deacon at Grandview Baptist in El Paso, Texas. The last 50 years he was active at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. He was also, along with his wife, involved in the Disaster Relief Ministry through the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and went on many mission trips with them.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 29, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. Little Rock, Ark. Funeral service with military honors will be at AR State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave. North Little Rock, Ark. on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 9 a.m. Online guestbook: www.smithfamilycares.com.