Wilford Earnest Reynolds

Over 100 years ago, Wilford (Bill) Reynolds, 10/1/22 took his first breath. And on 06/30/23, he took his last earthly breath, but oh what a life he led in-between! Bill was raised on a farm in Magazine, AR. His father taught him and his brother Leonard everything he thought they needed to know. They fed animals, did chores for their Mom, traded for things, hunted and fished for food for the family. Both their parents also made sure the boys went to church. However Uncle Sam had other plans for them.

Leonard went first to the Army, and Bill was drafted. He didn’t have to go but when the call came, he answered. Bill served in the Pacific, seeing front line action in Okinawa and later travelled to Occupied Japan before returning home in 1946. On his return he met Beverly Cox and married her in August of 1948 and they left Blue Mountain and Magazine behind. They travelled around awhile and ended in North Little Rock. It was there that they decided to settle and have a family. Surviving children are Gary Lee Reynolds, wife Sharon and his pride and joy a granddaughter Krista Reynolds Whaley, husband Paul and daughter, Cindy Reynolds Haynie, deceased husband Ron, his nephew Lynn Earl Reynolds of Fort Smith. He worked and retired from Chicopee Mfg. After retirement he spent the next 50 plus years married to Beverly, gardening, flea market down by the river, picking up treasures to rework or repair and resell. Then his beloved Beverly passed in March of 2013. But being the man he was, he kept moving forward. Now he gardened the Parkhill neighborhood, mowed folks lawn. The Patrick Hayes center opened and he hung out there, lifting weights, walking , kept busy with all the entertainment it provided becoming a pool shark, who had his own pool cue! He made many friends during that time. Then came covid, but it never got him! Though he had to slow down a little because of quarantines and such, he just kept doing what he loved. He loved being an Arkansas Razorback fan, and a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. Now he was riding a bicycle, composting, still walking and driving every Tuesday to Belwood Diner for breakfast. We surprised him on his 98th and 100th birthday with the most fun he ever had! The organizer of those events was his neighbor and very good friend Pam Ball. She got the NLRPD, the NLRFD, the Patriot Guard Riders, Corvette Club, Hummers and Jeep Club, some girls dressed like 40’s singers, to parade down J Avenue, to honor his service and share his birthdays. He got birthday wishes from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and NLR Mayor, Terry Hardwicke. He was interviewed by Channel 4 and by Jeffery Smith of The Leader. He was on TV, in the paper and he was our Star! Thank you Pam Ball, from a very grateful family, that you did this just for him.

After only one week in the hospital, we know he saw a light above him, and that he heard clearly angels singing and a Voice that said “Well done, good and faithful servant, folks are longing to see you and I have an extra seat at the table. Now take my hand for you have fought the good fight, ran your race have your reward waiting.” He eagerly answered the call. And in a twinkling of an eye he went from death to life eternal.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00pm on Monday, July 10, 2023 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.