Obituaries

Bill Walters

Photo of Bill Walters
Bill Walters of Greenwood, Arkansas passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 in his home after a long battle with cancer. He was born April 17, 1943, in Paris, Arkansas. Bill graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Juris Doctorate degree and came to Greenwood as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in 1971. He began practicing law in Greenwood in 1972 as Walters Law Firm, now Walters, Gaston and Allison. He and his wife, Shirley started SCATCO Abstract and Title Co. in 1980 and successfully ran it for 22 years. Bill ran for the Arkansas State Senate in 1983, and he served for 18 years. He was dedicated to the constituents he served and to the State. As a lawyer, Bill loved the law and using it in ways that helped his clients. As a State Senator, Bill passed over 100 bills during his time in the legislature, serving as chair of many committees and working hard for his district and constituents. He passed legislation, such as the one that eliminated parole for 2nd offenders of murder and rape, one that set up restitution and compensation for victims of crimes, and one that allowed for designation of organ donation on your drivers license. He passed the first concealed gun legislation for our state, a bill that made getting car tags easier, and many other pieces of legislation that made the lives of those in our state better. He was named one of the top 10 Arkansas legislators in 1995. Bill served on many local clubs, boards and organizations. He was recently named to the South Sebastian County Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame. He was three times President of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, a Greenwood Citizen of the Year, Who's Who and many other honors. He flew Angel and organ donor flights, transporting patients and donor organs that saved many lives. He also did lost plane searches for the Civil Air Patrol. He was awarded the Silver Medal of Valor by the Civil Air Patrol for pulling an unconscious accident victim out of a burning vehicle. Bill enjoyed helping people and spending time with family and friends. He loved flying a plane and helicopter and took many people up for fun rides and sightseeing. He loved his cabin, enjoyed hunting, working on the bulldozer and wood carving. Everyone enjoyed Bill's stories, his humor and genuine friendship. He was a friend to all. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Greenwood; three daughters, Jamie El-Erian and husband Mohamed of Laguna Beach, California, Sherry Marrier and husband, Brian of Pasadena, California, and Sandra Dewey and husband, Marshall of Hamilton, Missouri. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Samia El-Erian, William, Jacob, Hannah, Katie, Sarah and Emma Dewey; four brothers, Charles Walters and wife, Nieki of Houston, Texas, Robert Walters and wife, Beverly of Sixes, Oregon, Eddie Walters and wife, Rosemary of Maryland, and Jimmy Walters of Greenwood and one sister, Betty Beshoner of Diamondhead, Mississippi. Funeral service will be 1 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2013 at Christ the King Church in Fort Smith with burial at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Ratcliff, Arkansas under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Thursday from 1- 7 p.m. at the funeral home with a rosary service at 7 p.m. in the chapel. The family will visit with friends from 5-7 p.m. Pallbearers will be Paul Rush, Sen. Bruce Holland, John Paul Walker, Ed Beshoner, Troy Gaston and Derrick Allison. Honorary pallbearers will be Honey Graham, Wayland Parker, Robert Gage, Chris Young, Mac Jones and John Laborde. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill's honor to the South Sebastian County Boys and Girls Club, P.O. Box 219, Greenwood, Ark. 72936, 479-996-6877, www.greenwood360.com. To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.

Published March 7, 2013

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