Retired Pharmacist Turns to Farming

This is my good friend Charles Oates of Pottsville, Arkansas. He is retired from his post as small town pharmacist of more than fifty years and now enjoys firing up the tractor and bush-hogging and tending to his horses, cattle and chickens.


Charles has seen a lot of changes in the pharmaceutical profession and counts the computer as making the most significant impact. Charles specialized in compounding individual prescriptions for his customers and marvels at the world of information just a click away because of the computer.



His daughter recalled that the drugstore was never closed except to observe an hour for lunch on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and half a day to honor his founding partner on the day of his funeral.



Charles has been married to the same girl during his whole career. Her name is Jean, and he still calls her "sweetheart."


Thanks goodness for the men and women, who because of hard work and pride, have added to our sense of community.