David Doss

David Westbrook Doss, Sr., of Fayetteville, Arkansas, formerly of Beebe, Arkansas, entered the presence of his Lord on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, at Washington Regional Medical Center. He was 90.

David was born Aug. 27, 1932, to Thomas Joseph and Verna Westbrook Doss in Beebe. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Sue Huffaker Doss, his parents, and his sister, Sammie Jo Doss Andrews.

He is survived by his son David Westbrook Doss, Jr. and wife Debra of Fayetteville; daughter Suzanne Doss Shiner and husband Frank of Chappaqua, New York; and daughter Deana Doss Day of Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

David was the proud “Poppy” to eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Jacob Westbrook Doss and wife Jennifer of Austin, Texas; Jessika Doss Layton, husband Zach, and children Ethan and Ember of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Jayme Doss Kutter, husband Blake, and children Adalynn and Beckett of Lawton, Oklahoma; Janna Suzanne Doss of Portland, Oregon; Francis Matthew Shiner of Scarsdale, New York; Jeremy David Shiner and wife Taylor of  Pleasantville, New York; Lindsay Ann Shiner of Pasadena, California; Maggie Day Brito and husband Nick of London, England; William Robert Day, Jr. of Oxford, Mississippi; Savannah Sue Day of Boston, Massachusetts; and Prince “BK” Nwachukwu, of Dallas, Texas, who was like a grandson to him. He had two more great-grandchildren on the way; Baby Brito and Baby Kutter are expected to arrive in the next two weeks.

David is also survived by three beloved nieces and their families: Tommie McDonald and husband Gary of Batesville, Arkansas; Verna Andrews Dees of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Nan Andrews Bowers and husband Greg of Nashville, Tennessee. 

David graduated from Beebe High School and earned a business degree at the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

He was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served as a fighter pilot for Attack Squadron 212, nicknamed the “Rampant Raiders,” aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. 

David married his childhood sweetheart and love of his life, Sue Huffaker, in 1957 in Beebe. They started their family in Arkansas, and moved when Doss began working for Cessna Aviation. The family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, Grand Ledge, Michigan, and Wichita, Kansas before returning to Beebe in 1968, where he joined Huffaker Implement Company as general manager of the John Deere dealership.

David was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Beebe, a member of the Beebe School Board, a member of the Kiwanis Club, and was active in other community organizations. 

During the 1980s farm crisis, he served as the director of a federal program at Arkansas State University Beebe for displaced farmers, and later as an economic development officer for the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. The Dosses retired to Fayetteville in 1990, where he became a realtor and they joined University Baptist Church.  

David took amazing care of his beloved “Suzie,” during her long illness before she passed away in 2014. In recent years, he loved to talk about his Navy pilot days, watch the Razorbacks, talk to his children and grandchildren, and enjoy his daughter-in-law Debra’s Karo Nut pie.

Visitation will be at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Beebe Cemetery. Arrangements by Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Dr., Beebe, AR.  To view the online registry, please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook