William Walter "Bill" Crowder

Mr. William Walter "Bill" Crowder, 81, of Blytheville passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born on August 7, 1935, to the late Charles H and Margaret Gray Crowder. He attended Blytheville High School and later served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He loved to go camping and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed time with his grandchildren. Bill was a firefighter for many years with the Blytheville Fire Department and later with the Eaker Air Force Base as a civil service firefighter. He was also employed at Kelly Electric in Kennett. In years past, Bill has served as a reserve deputy sheriff for the Mississippi County Sherriff's Department and as a jailer for the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Ira and Laura Gray, Will and Elma Crowder, and his in-laws W.E. and Alma Golden.

He leaves his wife of 60 years, Gwen Golden Crowder of the home;

One son, Billy (Lucy) Crowder of Blytheville;

One daughter, Dana Carson of Morrilton;

One brothers, Robert (Betty) Crowder of Memphis;

Five grandchildren, William Britten Crowder, Katie Price, Kathleen Crowder, Charles Blake Elliott and Briah Lewis; and

Five great-grandchildren, Brittany Crowder, Bradley Crowder, Jacob Crowder, Maria Crowder and Ryan Price.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 17,2016 at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manilla with Dr. Tommy Carney officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Blytheville. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 16 at their home in Manilla.

A guest register can be found at www.HowardFuneralService.com