Bill Gunnell

William Winfield Gunnell (Billy), born May 24, 1926, to Andrew Jackson Gunnell and Ellen Grace Gean Gunnell in Arkansas County, Arkansas, died Monday, September 19, 2016. At age 17, he persuaded his parents to sign permission for him to join the Navy. Most of his tour of duty was spent on a Navy Troopship, the U.S.S. J. Franklin Bell. He participated in three invasions: Saipan, Penang, and Okinawa, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He spent most of his post-war period on a sea-going tugboat. He was discharged in May, 1947. While working in Chicago, Billy married on April 30, 1954 Maxine Geneive Regina Lance. Billy and Maxine moved to Stuttgart in August, 1960 where Billy was employed by Riceland Foods until 1963 at which time he succeeded his father as a game warden for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. After retirement, he worked at maintaining the Shiloh Church cemetery. He enjoyed spending time on White River. Preceding Billy in death were his parents and one sister, Mildred Inez Gunnell Mann. Survivors include his wife, Maxine Gunnell; a daughter, Patti Lee Gunnell; a son, Jeffrey William Gunnell; brothers, Charles Gunnell, Paul Gunnell, Alvin Gunnell, Larry Gunnell; sisters, Betty Gean Gunnell Eifling, Dorothy Lou Gunnell Inman, Gladys Gunnell Johansson, Nancy Marie Gunnell Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Grand Prairie Church with burial following in Shiloh Cemetery. Visitation is 5-6:30 p.m. Friday at Turpin Funeral Home. Please visit www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Shiloh Cemetery Association, 510 West 10th Street, Stuttgart, Arkansas 72160 or charity of the donor's choice.