James "Jim" Vanderburg

James “Jim” Vanderburg, age 84, of the Sunshine Community and Royal, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

He was born on December 4, 1938, in Royal, the son of Marvin Lee Vanderburg and Hazel Smith Vanderburg.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife on April 24, 2022, LaVerne Vanderburg.  He was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Vance Vanderburg and Phillip Vanderburg; and one sister, Linda Buttrum.

Jim was a Christian and a member of Hot Springs Baptist Church for over 20 years where he had served as a deacon and a preschool teacher.  He had also been a member of Lee Chapel Baptist Church for 20 years where he had served as a deacon.  He was a jack-of-all-trades.  In his working years he farmed with his father, cut firewood, worked in the oil fields, owned and operated Sunshine Store, was a pipefitter, worked as an instrument engineer at Nuclear 1 Reactor, worked for Entergy brush hogging under power lines, Buttrum Tire, and American Tire & Wheel.  He and LaVerne had a craft business called “Wood-N-Hearts” and Country Crafts.  One thing you could say about Jimmy was that he was a hardworking man.

He was a Lake Hamilton High School Honor Graduate.  He was the editor of the 1956 Lake Hamilton Wolf Howl and was voted Mr. Lake Hamilton.  He was soft spoken, super friendly and very neighborly never meeting a stranger.  He was quite the musician, playing the guitar and mandolin with the Family Bluegrass band that LaVerne and Jimmy started.  Family was everything to him.  He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.   

Jim is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Edgar Morrison; his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Becky Vanderburg; five grandchildren and spouses, Marah and Thomas Baker, Mark Allen Vanderburg, Megan and Anthony Ray, Timothy Morrison and Amber and Justin Crumpler; one great-grandson, Cole Ray; several nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.

Funeral services 11:00AM, Tuesday, January 31, 2023, with Pastor Mike Smith and Pastor Mark Goad officiating in the Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel, Hot Springs.

Interment in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Sunshine.

Visitation 10:00AM-11:00AM, Tuesday, prior to the service.

Pallbearers are Anthony Ray, Thomas Baker, Timothy Morrison, Joey Vanderburg, Mark Allen Vanderburg and David Buttrum.

Honorary pallbearers are John and Betty Cook, Joey Swindle, Monte Everhart, Mike Buttrum, Delmar Buttrum, Carrie Cook, Taylor Garner, Emily Grace Cook, Cailyn Cook, Bill Smith, Scott and Rita Gallimore, Jerry Baldwin, Bill Long and AR Hospice.

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.