James Doyle "Jim" Plumlee

James Doyle "Jim" Plumlee, age 78, of Bentonville, Arkansas passed away on January 31, 2018. He was born February 26, 1939 to Laura Jewell Fields and Doyle Plumlee.

 

He is preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, Bob Webster.

 

He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Eiler (Matt) of Fayetteville, her mother, Kim Do of Hot Springs, dear friends Mike and Leona Webb of Bentonville, and several members of his extended family.

 

Jim was raised in Bentonville and graduated from Bentonville High School in 1957. He had a natural aptitude for electronics and mechanics, and after a time working for McDonnell-Douglas in Tulsa, he joined the Navy. He served in the Vietnam War as an electronics technician on an aircraft carrier. Following his military service, Jim continued his world travels while working in the oil industry, with stints in Singapore, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. After returning home to Bentonville, he had a more than 20-year career in distribution with Walmart.

He was a man of many interests, including books, music, history, aviation, and cars. He attended drag racing events from Missouri to Minnesota, and he really enjoyed driving. He was a championship talker and loved to tell stories – and the occasional groan-worthy joke. A serious Razorback fan, he almost never missed a game and preferred the play-by-play on the radio rather than in the stadium. However, the greatest happiness in Jim's life was trains. A self-described "train nut," he avidly "chased" trains all over the four-state area and beyond and attended train shows all over the country, often with his best friend, Mike.

Truly one of a kind, he will be greatly missed.

 

 

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 11, at Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services, 2898 W. Walnut St. in Rogers. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m., with service at 2:30 p.m., and graveside immediately following at Bentonville Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in his honor to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.