John Eldridge Harper, 95, of Brinkley, Arkansas, formerly of Vicksburg, died Dec. 3, 2018.

He enlisted in the US Army during WWII and was stationed in Iceland. Upon returning home, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard before attending Mississippi College on the GI Bill. After graduation in 1948 he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1950 he married Elma Frances Clifton of Brinkley. For the next 36 years they called Vicksburg home. The couple moved to Brinkley in 1986 and became co-owners of KBRI/KQMC radio station for ten years.

His community involvement included membership in the Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, the Brinkley American Legion and Vicksburg VFW. He was active in First Baptist Church of Vicksburg and First Baptist of Brinkley. He served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and a member of Personnel and Finance committees.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Frances Harper of Brinkley; son, James (Peggy) Harper of Vicksburg; daughters, Jeannette (Jack) Williams of Springfield, Virginia, and Marty Harper of Madison; sister, Adriene Campbell of Troy, Ohio; four grandchildren, Jamie (Hardy) Pittman of Clinton, Daryl (Daphne) Harper of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Dan (Sarah) Williams of Bowie, Maryland, and Kelly (Aaron) Krause of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bura and Minnie Harper; two sisters, Glenna Slaughter and Laretha Stewart and two brothers, Bartis Harper and Bernice Harper.

Funeral services were held at FBC Brinkley. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home.