William Hunter Hashbarger

William H. "Bill" Hashbarger, 86, of Russellville, Ark., died Sunday, January 30, 2011. He was born May 9, 1924 in Shidler, Okla. After graduation from Oklahoma public schools, he volunteered for the military, and served 4 ½ years in the army. He was a Purple Heart Veteran, and was involved in three major campaigns and one invasion. After the war, he attended Arkansas Tech and the University of Arkansas on the GI bill. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in Engineering. He was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 30 years, 18 of those years he was the Resident Engineer for Operations and Maintenance of the Arkansas River Navigation System from Little Rock to the Oklahoma State line. He also served as Mayor of Russellville for three years. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Nina Hashbarger of Oklahoma; two former wives, Audie Foster Hashbarger and Betty Neidecker Hashbarger; two sisters, Betty Lou and Lila Lee, and four half sisters. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 19 years Joan Gardner Hashbarger of Russellville; her two children, Viki Martin & husband Sam of Russellville, Rick Gardner and wife Pam of North Little Rock and their families, two sisters-in-law, Judy Neagles of Russellville, and Jeannie Marsh and husband Wayne of Little Rock; his two children Les Hashbarger of Spooner, Wisconsin, and Julia Whitson of Vilonia and their families, leaving a total of seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Bill was active in community affairs. He was a Cub Scoutmaster, President of the Band Boosters, Charter President of Toastmasters, Charter President of Tri-County Water System, member of the Chamber of Commerce, past president of Lions Club, member of First United Methodist Church, and a part-time teacher of the Carden Sunday School class at FUMC. Funeral will be 10 a.m., Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 at First United Methodist Church "Old Sanctuary". Burial will be at 1pm following the service at State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock by Humphrey Funeral Service. Military Honors will be provided at the cemetery. A Visitation will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2nd at Humphrey's in Russellville. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 304 South Commerce Avenue, Russellville, Ark. 72801. Internet obituary and on-line guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.