William Robbins

MALVERN - William "Bill" Mahlon Robbins, 91, passed away on April 19, 2018.

Bill grew up in Sparkman and married Mary Doris Lea in 1950. After military service in World War II and Korea, Bill worked for General Motors, a job which led his family to Bedford, IN for 17 years. Bill enjoyed an active retirement fishing, growing a vegetable garden and driving the boat for his grandkids as they waterskied at Lake Catherine.

A proud father and loving grandfather, Bill's family will remember his playful sense of humor and his deep faith. We will remember his extraordinary devotion to his wife, Mary, and his gentle ways. And we will always remember his strength and his willingness to fight through and get back up.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, of 67 years and two children, Rex Robbins and Sandy of North Little Rock and Peggy Thomas and John of Bedford, IN, as well as three sisters, Joye, Barbara and Melba, and brother Ronnie, five grandchildren, Jamie, Brett, Megan, Kelly and Mary and six great-grandchildren, Dalton, Dylan, Tori, Tobin, Stella and Weston. He is preceded in death by five siblings, Donnie, Charline, Lewie, Rosa Lee and Martha Nell.

His family would like to thank his pastor, Donis Smead, for his many hours spent visiting and providing comforting words and to all the members of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Malvern who have sustained them and provided friendship. Memorials may be made to the church in lieu of flowers.

We also want to thank the dedicated staff of Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation and Kindred Hospice. To Cecily, Sheryl Dean, Ro, Katrina, Dana, Jan and many others, we thank you for your care in the last phase of Bill's life.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bill's life with a visitation at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2018. The funeral service will take place 10 a.m. on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the same location.