Earl Eugene Williams Jr.

Earl Eugene Williams Jr., 81, of Manila, passed from this life Friday Dec. 13, 2013, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Born in Manila to the late Earl and Minnie Stultz Williams, he was a lifelong Manila area resident and a U. S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He served in the 34th Medium Tank Battalion, 45th Infantry Division, Thunderbirds, 5th Armored Division. He was a retired self-employed farmer, contractor and truck driver. Mr. Williams was a longtime member and deacon of the Blackwater Baptist Church, and had served in many other capacities including, Sunday school teacher, building superintendent and treasurer.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Irene Arnold Williams of the home;

Two sons, Gerald Williams of Manila and Vernon Williams and his wife Donna of Bartlett, Tenn.;

Three brothers, Leroy Williams of Flint, Mich., Odis Williams of Corning, Ark., and Johnny Williams of Manila;

Two sisters, Glenda Moore of Rector and Minnie Lou Flannigan of Manila;

Two grandchildren, Brandon Williams and his wife Lori, and Ashley Stigler and her husband, Jon; and

Two great-grandchildren, Luke and Allie Williams.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Blackwater Baptist Church near Manila with the Rev. Ray Dill and the Rev. William Piercy officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Manila Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Monday evening at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila.

A guest register is at www.HowardFuneralService.com