W. L. Gillespie

W. L. Gillespie, 70, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday evening at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. He had lived in Jonesboro for 51 years, moving here from Osceola. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Mr. Gillespie retired from the Army as a Lt. Colonel. He was president of Gillespie Egg Farm for 34 years. He was owner/operator of Greene County Feed & Seed in Paragould. He served as a board member and president of the Arkansas Egg Council, was a Justice of Peace for Craighead County and was Exalted Ruler of the Order of Elks BPOE.

During his military career, he was commander of the 346th Ordnance and the 318th Intelligence DTCH in Jonesboro. He was Battalion Commander of the 336th Ordnance in Little Rock and was a member of the General’s Staff 122nd ARCOM.

Survivors include his wife, Myrna J. Gillespie of the home; his daughter Debra Gillespie Maillet, Bothell, Washington; a son, William L. Gillespie, Jr., Kennesaw, Georgia; two sisters Martha Faught (Mrs. Mitchell), Shirley Hales (Mrs. Max, Jr.), both of Jonesboro; and one grandchild, Kyleen Maillet, Bondsville, MA.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 2:00 p.m. in the Emerson Memorial Chapel with Bro. Marlin Gennings and Dr. Bruce Tippit officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Steven Hales, Michael Hales, Brad Faught, Eric Ford, Towney Sparks, David Maillet, Bob Troutt, and Darrell Veteto.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leonard Barnes, Blake Mackey, Dean Roach, Terry Fowler, Carey Tomlinson, and Jimmy Carter.

Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

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