Choctaw County AlArchives Obituaries.....Becton, Dr. Paul May 14, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: William J (Jim) Carroll williamcarrollj@bellsouth.net March 9, 2010, 9:54 am The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 5-17-2005 Page 4B Dr. Paul Becton Dr. Paul Becton Sr., age 81, of Little Rock, died in his sleep on Saturday, May 14, after a brief illness. He is survived by his sons and their wives, Dr. Paul Becton Jr. and Meilissa of Rogers, Ark., Ric Becton and Marianne of Summerfield, Fla., and Drs. David and Debbie Becton of Little Rock; 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; and by countless friends, extended family members, and colleagues around the country. He was born Aug. 14, 1923 of a farm near Silas, Arkansas ( actually Alabama), to Loren David and Inez Lee Becton. He had five brothers and three sisters of whom he was the last survivor. After graduating from South Choctaw High School in 1941, he attended Auburn University to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. While serving tables and washing dishes in a sorority house at Auburn, he met his future wife, Mary Lee Hug. He graduated from Auburn University with a D. V. M. in 1945, and soon began his career with the Animal Health Service of the US Department of Agriculture. He became the veterinarian-in-charge for the USDA in Arkansas in 1958. His tenure in Arkansas was marked by the eradication of brucellosis from cattle herds in the stable, an accomplishemnt that eventually led to his promotion to the position of Director of the National Brucellosis program in Washington, DC., in 1973. He led that program until 1982, when he retired from federal service and moved to Tallahassee, Fla. where he ran a similar program for the State of Florida. He retired from that position in 1995, Dr. and Mrs. Becton returned to Litle Rock in 2002 as she fought her battle against multiple myeloma, which took her life December 21, 2004. No matter where they lived, he was devoted to work, his church, and especially his wife and three sons. He always found time for his boys, especially with teaching, coaching, and supporting them in their many sporting endeavors. He rarely missed a game, and even as the pasing years and Alzheimer's robbed him of much of his memory, he could recall with unusual clarity the minute details of his sons' athletic feats which had occured 40 years earlier. He taught his sons to play golf, an activity they enjoyed together for over 4 decades. In his later years, he returned to a favorite passion of his rural youth, hunting, especially turkey hunting each spring in the woods of southwest alabama. Foe 20 years, he provided a weeklong vacation at the beach for his sons and their families, a time of great joy and countless good memories for all. His annual Sunday School service at the beach will always be remembered for its sincerity, if not its brevity. Above all, he was a devoted and loving husband to Mary Lee, his wife of over 60 years. The last years of his life were spent caring for her as she battled her painful and frustrating illness. Paul Becton lived his life according to the Golden Rule. He was strong and firm, but gentle and kind. He never complained, and by all accounts, he never spoke an unkind word about another human being. He will be missed. There will be a family visitation at Griffiin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock, Ark., 501-661-9111, from 6pm until 8pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, and a funeral service at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at 10:30am with burial to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/choctaw/obits/b/becton798ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb