William R. "Bill" Wilson

William R. “Bill” Wilson, 78, passed away Saturday April 23, 2011 at home in Jonesboro after a long battle with COPD.

He was born in Burdett, Arkansas on August 24, 1932 and went to school at Parkin, Arkansas. He lived in the Midway community for 35 years before moving back to Jonesboro. He was a member of Amagon Baptist Church where he was ordained as Deacon in 1993. During his illness, he was thankful for the television ministry of Central Baptist Church. He served in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean War where he received a Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. He had served as Captain for the Richwood Volunteer Fire Department. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilburn & Eva Wilson.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jane Wilson; three sons, Billy Wilson and wife, Vicky of Biggers, Arkansas, David Wilson and wife, Melody of Searcy, Arkansas, Michael Wilson and wife, Tammy of Decatur, Alabama; and one daughter, Debbie and husband, Jeff Wicker of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Angie & Wade Jackson, Amy & Bart Morrison, Colby & Jennifer Wilson, Weston Wilson, Kassie Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Austin Wilson, Brady Wilson, Tanner McElrath, and Benjamin Wicker; three step-grandchildren, Kendra Simonton, Jordan Wicker, and Whitten Wicker; and 3 great grandchildren, Zac Matthews, Madison Jackson, and Emily Morrison.

Active pallbearers will be Billy Wilson, David Wilson, Michael Wilson, Jeff Wicker, Colby Wilson, and Cyrus Bible.

Honorary pallbearers are Tanner McElrath, Dr. Timothy Shown, Dr. D.V. Patel, Dr. Kenneth Chan, Pastors Charles Vaughan and E.C. Hartness, Alfred Howard, Todd Howard, and all the members of the Richwood Volunteer Fire Department, and members of the People Helping People Community Center.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel with David Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Woods Chapel Cemetery near Paragould, Arkansas.

Visitation will be Monday 6:00 – 8:00 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a lasting memorial or honorarium to the American Heart Association, https://donate.americanheart.org, or the American Lung Association, www.lungusa.org/donate/.