William Lee Rhoads

Mr. William Lee (Bill) Rhoads, age 90, passed away on November 1, 2012, as the result of complications of Alzheimer's from which he suffered for many years. He was the son of the Ida Lee Brister Rhoads and William Arnold Rhoads and was born in Vilonia, Arkansas on August 20,1922. Mr. Rhoads loved to drive the big rigs, the semis, the piggybacks, and the bob trucks and did so for 40 years. He drove for Atlas Transit, Arkansas Paper, Arkansas Best and a number of other trucking companies before finally retiring from Jones Truck Lines. When he was not delivering his freight he was working in volunteer fire departments. He helped establish the Clear Lake Volunteer Fire Department and the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department and served as fire chief for both agencies. He also served in the Baseline and Sylvan Hills Volunteer Fire Departments. He loved to buy and restore old cars and was a member of the Razorback Antique Auto Club. In addition he managed to get in some hunting and fishing and insisted on using his "lucky 13" lour. Bill's dad, a farmer, passed away when Bill was just 15 years old and Bill brought in the crop that year by himself. Bill married Wilma Mae James Rhoads on January 8,1945 and entered the US Army shortly thereafter. He was on a ship headed for Germany when the "bomb" was dropped and his ship was diverted to Japan. He spent his entire enlistment in Japan and was honorably discharged on April 12,1947. Mr. Rhoads was preceded in death by both his parents, his beloved wife, Wilma, and two sisters, Ruby Davidson and Kathleen Herrbach. He is survived by a son, Ronald Rhoads and wife Sarah and two daughters, Barbara Claypool and husband Joe and Carol Red and husband Wallace. He is also survived by grandchildren, Tina Hice (Marrion), Stephanie McCoy (Bart), Monte Red (Michelle), Michael Red (Lori), Valerie Barnett (Steve), Heather Ussery (Thomas), Kristy Jordan (Dusty) and Scott Red. Great-grandchildren surviving him are Robin Salgado (Robert), Erica Faber (Robert), Tiffany Edwards (RayLee), Blake Lee, Daniel Hice, Haley Barnett, Samantha Lee, Garrett Red, Hannah Red, Caleb Red, Kristen Red, Eli Barnett, Callie Red, Rachel Barnett, Michael Red Jr., Cash Ussery, Jastyn Jordan, Corbin Ussery and Brielle Ussery and a great-great-grandchild, Ana-Olivia Salgado. Mr. Rhoads was of the Pentecostal faith and served faithfully in a number of positions in the various churches he attended over the years. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday November 5, 2012 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway (801 8th Ave) with Reverend Larry Pearce and Reverend Jimmy Brinsfield officiating. Interment will follow at Vilonia Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Online guestbook can be signed by visiting www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.