Dighton Kirby Ewan January 6, 1942 - January 26, 2020

Dighton Ewan, of Clarendon, passed away at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Stuttgart, at the age of 78. He was born in Little Rock to James O. and Edith Kirby Ewan of Blackton.

Education was extremely important to his family. Dighton was in the classroom at the Banner School House at the young age of four. The family moved to Clarendon when he was in the sixth grade and he spent the reminder of his childhood in Clarendon.

He graduated from Clarendon High School in 1959 and moved to Conway. He attended the University of Central Arkansas receiving a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Science and went on to receive his Master’s degree in Counseling Education from Arkansas State University and his Specialist degree in Administration from the University of Arkansas.

During Dighton’s time at the University of Central Arkansas he was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity and met the love of his life Patricia McIntire. Dighton and Patricia married December 23, 1963 and spent the next 56 years together.

Dighton was a member of the Clarendon First United Methodist Church. As a youth, he was a choir member and a dedicated Acolyte. In adult years, he served as a member of the finance board, and the administrative board. He was a past member of the Methodist men's Sunday school class. He has been active in the Clarendon community serving as President of the Lions Club, a Volunteer Fireman, Levee Board committee member and the managing caretaker of the Shady Grove Cemetery.

Dighton took the opportunity to work with and touch the lives of many of our youth through the years. He began teaching Biology at Newport High School and later worked as a Counselor at Tuckerman and Bald Knob High Schools. In 1971, Dighton and his family moved back to his home in Clarendon where he became a Middle School Principal. In the mid-seventies, he changed his career path to work full time in the agricultural field where he managed and sold farm equipment and farmed the family farm raising cotton, rice, soybeans and wheat.

After many years of agriculture business ventures, he went back into education and continued to oversee the family farm. He was an administrator at Ouachita High School, DeValls Bluff High School and later return to Clarendon High School. After many years in administration, he received the opportunity to take the Director of Students Services position at Crowley's Ridge Vo-Tech School in Forrest City. Dighton retired in 2001 and spent his time managing the family farm and enjoying his family while making time to hunt and fish.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia McIntire Ewan; sons, James "Jim" (Charlotte) Ewan, Patrick (Medley) Ewan; sister, Julia LeBoeuf; grandchildren, Greyson Ewan, Stone Ewan, Cade Grinder, Mallory Grinder, Alyssa Files, Jared Hagger, and Kristi Hagger; great-grandchildren, Roman Files and Walker Files; and nephew, Kirby Jones.

Services were on Wednesday, January 29, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon, with burial at Shady Grove Cemetery. Arrangements by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home in Clarendon.