James Monroe Wilson

James Monroe Wilson, age 90, of Rogers, formerly of Little Rock died Friday, April 2, 2021 at Circle of Life Hospice located in Springdale. He was born December 9, 1930 in Pine Bluff, Ark., the son of John and Lillian Wilson. Things he liked to do were fishing, golfing, photography, and painting, but his real joy came from his relationships with his family and serving his Lord, Jesus Christ. He married his wife, Betty Marie Miller in 1953, whom he met while attending Ouachita Baptist University. After graduating, Ouachita, he earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Following his graduation he pastored churches in Little Rock and Gurdon, Ark., then moved his family to Brazil, where he served as a missionary with the International Mission Board for seven years. Following his service on the mission field, he returned to Arkansas in 1970 to serve as pastor of Little Rock's Baptist Tabernacle, which became Parkway Place Baptist Church when it relocated to western Little Rock. Retiring in 1995, he and Betty served in Germany as missionaries. He and Betty retired and moved to Benton, Ark., then to Rogers in 2010 to be surrounded by their children and grandchildren. They have been members of First Baptist Rogers since that move. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Bruce Wilson and Norton Wilson. James is survived by: his wife of 68 years; Betty Wilson; one son John Wilson and his wife Becky, of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Debbie Johnson and her husband Gerald of Fayetteville, Victori "Vicki" Wagner and her husband Brice of Rogers, six grandchildren; Jill Goodwin and her husband Clay, Jennifer Richard and her husband Nathan, Ty Wagner and his wife Sara, Brook Smith and her husband Aaron, Rachael Heerwagen and her husband Ryan, and Ben Wilson and his wife Christian; and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10-10:45 a.m., at First Baptist Rogers, located at the Pleasant Grove Campus. A celebration of James's life will begin at 10:45 a.m., with Pastor Don Moore, Pastor Wade Tomlinson, and Pastor Wes George officiating. A private interment will be at Elm Springs Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to: Mission Dignity, which helps pastors' widows with insufficient incomes, or Circle of Life Hospice. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home Bentonville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.