William Robert "Bill" Meredith Sr.

Dr. William Robert "Bill" Meredith Sr., age 88, passed away peacefully on January 17, surrounded by his loving family, who will miss his strong leadership and kind heart. His friends will miss his cheerful spirit, and competitive poker and bridge game; his patients will miss his caring concern and surgical ability, and the world will have lost a unique individual. Bill Meredith was born in Wright City, Okla., August 8, 1923, the second son of the late Samuel E. and Pauline Cravens Meredith. He graduated from, Paris High School in 1941, and attended Arkansas Teacher's College 1941-43. With the start of WWII, Bill joined the Army Reserve and was activated in 1943, serving three years in the Army. He served in the Infantry Engineering Unit at East Texas U. and then attended Medical School at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He received a B.S. in Medicine in 1946, and a Doctor of Medicine in 1947 from the UofA. Dr. Meredith did his internship in Norfolk, Va., and a General Practice Residency in Charleston, W.Va.; he and his young family returned to Arkansas, in Texarkana and Joiner, where he practiced general medicine from1949-51. With the Korean conflict, Dr. Meredith was called to service in the Air Force in 1951. He served two years as a Flight Surgeon in Texas and New Mexico in the Armed Forces Special ForcesSpecial Weapons Program (Atomic Weapons), being discharged as a Captain in 1953. He then resumed his medical training as a surgery resident at Lloyd Nolan Foundation Hospital in Birmingham, Ala 1953-57. He then moved his wife, Jean and four children, to Pine Bluff, Ark., where he practiced general surgery for 30 years. He was a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, Arkansas Medical Society (Fifty Year Club), & Southern Medical Association. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of the Southwestern Surgical Congress and a Fellow of the Society of Abdominal Surgeons. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery-University of Arkansas Medical Sciences-AHEC Branch, Pine Bluff, where he taught surgical procedures to resident surgeons-in-training for many years. He was licensed to practice Medicine in Arkansas, Alabama and Texas. Dr. Meredith served as Secretary and President of the Jefferson County Medical Society and as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff at Davis Hospital and Jefferson Regional Medical Center. He and Jean were active members of First United Methodist Church, Pine Bluff, Life time Members of the UofA Alumni Association and Razorback Club, and Pine Bluff Country Club. For many years, he enjoyed duck and deer hunting, boating and especially golf. In 2000, Bill and Jean moved to Pascagoula to be near family. They became active members of Eastlawn United Methodist Church, starting a bridge club there, as well as a senior poker club. Bill made many friends (and a little pocket change) playing golf for many years. His golf, bridge and poker friends will miss him greatly. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Velma Jean "Mama Jean" Lynch of Clinton, Tenn., sisters, Dorothy Heath of Tulsa, Okla., and Evelyn Allen of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his brother, Samuel E. Meredith is deceased. His children include Linda (Dr. Chris) Wiggins, Pascagoula; Dr. Bill (Kelly) Meredith Jr. of Joplin, Mo.; Susan (Dr. Bob) Gaston of Birmingham, Ala.; and Becky Grigsby of Dallas. He leaves 13 grandchildren, Sen. Brice (Heather) Wiggins & Meredith Benoit of Pascagoula; Lindsay Wiggins, Wade (Melynda) Meredith; Shandra (Clint) Chapman; Lisa Lamb; Jaxon Meredith; Rebecca Grigsby; Mary Susan (Stetson) Formby; Rhydon Grigsby; Zachary (Liz) Gaston; Jordan (Jeris) Gaston; & Emily (Jason) Eversull. Daddy Bill will also be missed by his nine great-grandchildren, Landon & Grace Wiggins & William & Emma Cate & Charlie Benoit all of Pascagoula,and also Katie Chapman, Rory Meredith and Graham & Hayes Gaston. Heritage Funeral Home will handle the arrangements; a memorial Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., January 21, with visitation one hour prior, Eastlawn United Methodist Church, Pascagoula, Miss. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Chris Wiggins, Dr. Bill Meredith Jr, Dr. Bob Gaston, Sen. Brice Wiggins, Brent Benoit, Zachary Gaston, Jordan Gaston, Wade Meredith, Jaxon Meredith, Rhydon Grigsby, Jason Eversull & Stetson Formby. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Eastlawn United Methodist Church, Pascagoula, Miss, University of Arkansas School of Medicine, 4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, Ark. 72205 You may view and sign an online register book for Dr. Meredith at www.heritagefuneralhome.us.