BENTON — E. Jerry Winkler

of Benton, Ark., died on Thursday, June 18, after a brief cardiac illness. He was born in Vimy Ridge, Ark., on Aug. 5, 1947, and graduated from Benton High School 1966 where he played baseball and football.

He married Oneta Faith Verdier in 1967. He served in the Army and was honorably discharged in 1973. He worked as a telephone lineman with Southwestern Bell/AT&T for 33 years. Retiring early at age 55, he found retirement didn’t suit him, so he busied himself managing a modest cattle farm and an assortment of residential properties until 2018. He was a devout Christian.

He enjoyed fishing, but took his greatest joy in “doing chores” — a deceptive phrase he used to trick the unsuspecting into eight hours of punishing physical labor, usually involving livestock, and always under conditions that destroyed those of us who tried to keep pace with him.

Before his own death, he suffered the losses of his parents, E.O. Winkler and Mary A. Bailey, stepmother Jean Winkler and brother Dennis Winkler.

Survivors include (but are not limited to): his wife, Oneta Faith Winkler of Benton; siblings Sandra Herzberg of Pea Ridge, Tim Winkler of Texas and David West of Benton; children (and their spouses) Aimee and Doug Graham of Bryant and Mitch and Sara Winkler of Wisconsin; siblings-in-law Sally Verdier-Bishop, John Verdier, Mary Moore; and his beloved grandchildren Tess Winkler, Stephen Graham, Hannah Graham and Lucas Winkler.

Due to present safety concerns, a formal memorial service is deferred indefinitely. Arrangements by Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.