David William Hart's Obituary
David William Hart, aged 90, died Saturday, April 17, 2021. He was born March 22, 1931 in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of William R. and Helen Murphey Hart. In 1952 he graduated from Iowa University where he majored in English and graduated from the English Honors Program summa cum laude, the honor that in later life he was most proud of. He participated in the marching band and the Army ROTC. After graduation, he began active military duty during the Korean War. Most of that time he was in a military history detachment stationed in Japan, working in graves registration.
When he returned to the US, he began graduate school at Harvard University, receiving a PhD in 1960. His first job was at the University of Arkansas where he remained for his entire career. He taught in the English Department from 1960 to 1984 when he moved to the Graduate School as Associate Dean. He was also Interim Dean 1990. He retired from the University in 1997.
He was a Member of Phi Beta Kappa, serving in the University of Arkansas chapter and in the national office. He had an abiding interest in World War I aviation and was a member of the World War I Air Historians. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor; his self-styled epitaph was “He got away with it.”
He was a kind, considerate and loving husband. In his final months, as his body weakened, his spirit only sweetened.
He is survived by his wife, Emily Hart; his niece, Gillian Posey; and nephew, Alaric Posey.
Cremation was under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas.
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