Bill Orr

Billy "Bill" Joe Orr, age 81, of Malvern, passed away May 17, 2013 at the Malvern Nursing Home. Bill was born Nov. 10, 1931 in Leola Ark., to the late Lee Andrew and Cassie Mae Graves Orr. Bill graduated from Leola High School in 1949. After High School, Bill served 16 months in the United States Air Force. After living for a short while in Omak Wash., (where he met his future wife Linda), he established residence in Malvern where they were married, raised their family and lived the rest of his life. Bill loved the Lord and was a longtime member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where he was a former Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and a Lay speaker. He was a prominent Malvern businessman for many years where he was a masterful furniture salesman for Hardwick Brothers Furniture Co. and later, owner of Bill Orr's Furniture Center. He was past president of the Malvern Chamber of Commerce in 1988, and in 1995 was presented the Arkansas Roadrunner Furniture Dealer of the Year award for the state of Arkansas. Bill truly loved his profession which gave him the opportunity to meet many people and make legions of friends. He also loved growing tomatoes, eating watermelon, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, piddling with his guitar and fishing. Perhaps most of all, he loved telling jokes, laughing and making others laugh. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by all nine of his brothers and sisters. Survivors include his wife, Linda Ann Ford Orr, to whom he married on July 13, 1955; two sons, John Randall Orr and wife Julie of Little Rock, and Ronny Orr and wife Sheryl of Malvern; four grandchildren, Andrew Orr, Shelby Orr, Casey Orr, and Logan Orr; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Tuesday May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Regency Funeral Home. Services will be held Wednesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. in the Regency Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Orr and Rev. Dooley Fowler officiating. Burial will follow in Brush Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Logan Orr, Andrew Orr, Shelby Orr, Lance Howell, Sam Kilgore and Troy Cates. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Larry Brashears, Malvern Nursing Home and their staff, The Crossing and their staff and all his friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at regencyfuneralhome.com.