Howard County’s 15th sheriff, Dick Wakefield, was buried Sunday after a funeral service with huge attendance.
Wakefield served as sheriff both by governor’s appointment and by popular election for 22 years.
The office has been filled by 17 men from current Sheriff Bryan McJunkins going back to the first sheriff in 1873, Col. R.G. Shaver, who had been a Confederate army officer in the Civil War.
Sheriff Wakefield was appointed to fill the vacant term in office in 1970.
In 1977 he was elected sheriff and served until his retirement in 1996.
Sheriff Wakefield’s funeral was at the Cross Point Cowboy Church where he had been a leader.
Howard County sheriff’s deputies led the funeral procession and an Arkansas Sheriff’s Association honor guard stood sentry at the graveside ceremony at County Line Cemetery.
