Bill G Floyd

Bill G. Floyd, M.D. died November 12, 2013 in Little Rock. He was born May 20, 1931 in Little Rock to Joe H. and Janice Ross Floyd of Ft. Smith while his mother was staying with her mother, Ada Burruss Ross. After six years in Ft. Smith and 1 year in Newport, he lived most of the rest of his life in Little Rock. After the 1st grade in Newport, he attended public schools in Little Rock, graduating from Little Rock Senior High in 1949 where he was an athletic manager/student trainer. He attended Little Rock Junior College, now UALR. He was a student manager for three football seasons and participated in the Junior Rose Bowl team of 1949. Bill was elected president of the student body of Lee Grammar, West Side Junior High and was president of the student body at LRJC in 1950-51. After finishing LRJC, he spent one spring and summer at Hendrix College then entered medical school at what has become UAMS in 1952. After graduating in 1956 and 2 years of internal medicine training, he spent 4 years at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO. as a resident in OB-GYN. He returned to Little Rock in 1962 to begin practice with Hoyt Choate, who had delivered him (and later married Bill's aunt.) Bill and Jerry Sue Brewer Stebbins were married Feb 16, 1957 and remained so for over 56 years. In addition to Jerry, survivors include their children, Paul Floyd, Madeline Floyd and Stephanie Purifoy. In addition, he is survived by grandsons Philip Bruce Purifoy III and William Joseph Purifoy with whom he spent many happy hours. In addition he leaves one nephew, one niece, and several ‘greats'...He was preceded in death by his brother Tom Floyd of Forest City, Arkansas. Bill began practice with Dr. Hoyt Choate and Harlan Hill in 1962 and in 1971, he established The Little Rock OB GYN Clinic which became The Little Rock Gynecology Clinic when he confined his practice to gynecology for many years before retirement. He was a member of the Pulaski County Medical Society, Arkansas Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the AMA. In addition he was board certified in OB GYN. After 32 years in practice plus his years of training, Bill estimated he attended nearly 10,000 births. Bill was a member of Wilson's Tigers, a group of players and managers from Coach's 1947-1957 teams and became a member of the UALR Sports Hall of Fame for his participation in LRJC's trip to the Little Rose Bowl in 1949. He was a long time member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church where he had served on the Board of Stewards and was a member of the Dietz Dialogue Class. He had served on many committees at area hospitals, served as chief of the OB/GYN section and was Chief of Staff at Baptist during the construction of the "New" Baptist Hospital. For several years before retirement, he taught both Surgery and GYN residents from UAMS when they rotated at Baptist. He held simultaneous appointments as associate clinical professor in both Surgery and OB/GYN at UAMS, the only person so honored. After retiring, Bill and Jerry spent time in genealogy research traveling to several states looking for ancestors. They spent a lot of time in old cemeteries. He always said that was some of his favorite times. Also after retiring, he had a garden at the County Farm until he could no longer physically care for it. He was especially proud of his tomatoes and canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. A visitation will be held Sunday November 17, 2013 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. His funeral will be Monday at 2:00 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. A brief reception will be held following the service in the church reception area followed by burial at Roselawn Memorial Park. We would like to thank the nursing staff at Baptist Hospital on 9A, his care givers, and his doctors Dr. Edwin Baron, Dr. Don Meacham and Dr. Jason Holder. Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, and the Baptist Hospital Foundation. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.