Loyd Reuben Lamb

Loyd Reuben Lamb, 89, of Caraway, passed away on March 10, 2026. Born in Black Oak to John Cecil Lamb and Lori Irene Finley Lamb, he spent his childhood in Ward, Cash, and Caraway. A talented baseball pitcher and tri-state Golden Gloves boxing champion in his youth, he graduated from Central High School in Caraway in 1955. Shortly afterward, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Germany with the field artillery.

In 1959, Loyd married Joyce Stewart Lamb. The couple moved to East St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked two jobs to support their education. From 1960 to 1964, he attended Arkansas State, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science and Chemistry. He returned to teaching, first as a Chemistry and Biology instructor at his alma mater, then as Director of the Agriculture and FFA program at Bradley School District in southwest Arkansas. In 1971, he moved back to northeast Arkansas to develop the Industrial Arts program at Mississippi County School District. He completed his teaching career at Riverside School District in Caraway in 1991.

Beyond education, Loyd spent summers scouting cotton across northeast and southwest Arkansas. He owned a small farm near Imboden in Lawrence County, where he raised cattle. He found joy in hunting, fishing, playing guitar, and conducting in-depth Bible studies. In the 1990s, he authored a book titled Commentary on Revelation. A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, he served as deacon and elder at the Nettleton, Bradley, and Caraway congregations, where he loved leading youth classes and teaching adult Bible studies.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Joyce Lamb; two children and their spouses, Dr. Trent and Christy Lamb of Jonesboro, and Dr. Julie Lamb-Milligan and Keith Milligan; five grandchildren, Nathan Lamb, Nicholas Lamb, Michael Jayce Milligan, Libby Milligan Brandt, and Kristopher Brandt; one great-grandchild, Zaleigh Aspen Brandt; one brother, Larry Lamb of Searcy; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irene Lamb; three brothers, Leon, Boyd, and John Kenneth Lamb; and two sisters, Marie Lamb Armstrong and Peggy Lamb Coleman.