'Les' Upton, 89, of Harrison

Leslie “Les” Dee Upton, 89, of Harrison, died at Mt. Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, Sept. 3 (2019). Funeral services will be at Northvale Baptist Church at 2p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, with Pastor Byron Cothran officiating. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Coffman Funeral Home in Harrison.

The son of the late Roy Willard Upton and Sudie (Lee) Upton Davis, he was born in Jonesboro on April 30, 1930. He was a graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a Master’s Degree in Education Administration. Les’ teaching career spanned 31 years until his retirement in 1991. He taught at Jonesboro, St. Genevieve, Missouri; Lead Hill, where he also served as Superintendent from 1969-1972 and Bergman, where he taught for 19 years, until he retired. He also served as past president of the Retired Teacher Association of Arkansas. Les was also a Korean War Veteran, serving in the US Navy on the USS Boxer as a Radar Operator. He was enlisted in the Navy from 1950-1954 and was also a member of the Arkansas National Guard. He spent 23 years in service to his country. He also served as former commander of VFW Post 2881. He was a member of Northvale Baptist Church. He was also a Master Mason, and was a member of the Harrison and Bellefonte Masonic Lodge. He was a recipient of the 50-Year Mason Pin and the Pillars of Solomon Award.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Pete Neal and Charlie Upton and a sister, Geraldine Lawson.

Les is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy Upton; his son, David Upton, of Harrison; his daughters, Darlene Trammell, of Bellefonte and Dee Breedlove, of Western Grove; 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Rick Stevens, Heath Trammell, Michael Breedlove, Andrew Wright, Josh Rodman and Bruce Trammell.