Teddy W. Pylant

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Lt. Col. Teddy Wayne Pylant, (RET), 67, of Jonesboro, died Friday morning, Sept. 5, 2008, at his home of colon cancer. Born in the Childress community near Monette, Col. Pylant moved to Jonesboro in 1965. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served 34 and a half years with the Arkansas National Guard, retiring in 1994. He earned a bachelor degree from Arkansas State University and a master degree from Webster University in St. Louis. He was an account executive and weatherman for KAIT-TV and an announcer for Radio KNEA for several years. He was a member of Walnut Street Baptist Church where he was a member of the Murl Smith Sunday school class.

Mr. Pylant was the founder and first president of the Craighead County Veterans Monument Foundation, American Legion Pickett Post 21, Disabled American Veterans Post 26, VFW Roy Wiles Post 1991, and the Northeast Arkansas Military Officer Association of America. He was past president of Jonesboro Jaycees, past member of University Heights Lions Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chancie Everett and Macey Elizabeth Meredith Pylant, and three brothers, Max Pylant, Rudy Pylant and Ira Pylant.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Grant Pylant of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Barry Everett and Maureen Pylant of Sherwood; a daughter and son-in-law, Carrie Elizabeth and John Williams of Jonesboro; a sister, Billie Fern Garver of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; a Brother, Jack Pylant of Iuka, Miss.; and three grandchildren, John Chancie Williams, Cassandra Sue Williams and Nicole Elizabeth Pylant.

Funeral services were 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at Walnut Street Baptist Church with Glen Putman and Max Alexander officiating. Burial was in Jonesboro Memorial Park with full military honors. Emerson Funeral Home was in charge.

Active pallbearers include Capt. Brian Mason, U.S. Army National Guard, Maj. Michael Henderson, U.S. Army National Guard, LTC Edward Tanner, U.S. Air Force, Retired, Maj. James (Ed) Foster, U.S. Army Special Forces, Retired, Petty Officer Robert Cushman, U.S. Navy, SSGT Joseph Furniss, U.S. Marine Corps.

Honorary pallbearers included Ralph Boling, Billy Cribbs, Burnis Posey, Max Alexander, Murl Smith, Marvin Jumper, Carl Mosby, Jerry Bowen, and the American Legion Honor Guard.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Craighead County Veteran¢s Monument Foundation, c/o American Legion, P.O. Box 595, Jonesboro, AR 72403.