Rufus William Heafner was born October 1, 1921 in Oklahoma to Richard Franklin & Beulah Josephine Brady Heafner. On the 1930 census the family was living in Beverly Twsp, Sebastian Co., Ar. On the 1940 census it states that in 1935 they were living at Lavaca, Sebastian Co., Ar. Rufus was married twice. The first marriage to RitaM. McDonald age 15, on Nov 2, 1940 in Franklin Co., Ar. Both were living in Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ar. at that time. They were divorced on Jan 17, 1945 in Sebastian Co., Ar. The second marriage was to Ruby Lee Nichols on Jun 14, 1952 in Charleston, Franklin Co., Ar. Rufus registered for the military draft Feb. 15, 1942 at Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ar. On June 6, 1944. He enlisted in the US Army at Camp Josepth T. Robinson in Little Rock, Ar. He served as a US Army paratrooper with the rank of Pvt. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal which was awarded to a service man for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Feb 1, 1946 Rufus was discharged from the US Army. Rufus William Heafner passed away on Aug 17, 2007. He was buried in Hickory Ridge Cemetery, Lavaca, Sebastian Co. Ar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find A Grave Rufus W. Heafner, 85, of Van Buren, died August 17, 2007 in Van Buren. He was an avid farmer who participated along with his wife Ruby in the Fort Smith Farmer's Market and he was a retired Welder. He was of the Baptist Faith. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruby Heafner of the Home; two daughters, Caroline Howard and Ann Thurman both of Riverside, CA; six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Hickory Ridge Cemetery near Lavaca all under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home.