Bobby Ray Wilson

Bobby Ray Wilson, 81, of Springdale passed away Sunday, July 4th at his home. He was born June 3, 1929 in Arden, Arkansas, son of J.T. and Ozie Wilson. He is survived by Leona Luker Wilson, his wife of 61 years; two children, Joy Saxon and husband, Kent of Boise, Idaho; Brian Wilson and wife Tracy of Lowell, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Jason Saxon of Oklahoma City, OK; Kevin Saxon of Saskatchewan, Canada; Janae Wilson of Lowell, AR; Justin Eursery and Krysta Eursery of Lowell, AR; and 3 great-grandchildren, Jayden, Isabelle, and Abigail Eursery of Lowell, AR; two sisters, Frances Woolard of Lebanon, OR, and Patsy Gafford of Prescott Valley, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, J.T. and Ozie Wilson of Idabel, OK; five brothers, Royce Bradshaw of Reistertown, MD, Earnest Wilson of Texarkana, AR, Harry and J.T. Wilson of Arden, AR, and Ted Wilson of Watauga, TX, four sisters, Novena Moore of Hereford, TX, Irene (Tootsie) Merrill of Arden, AR, Doris Melson of Winston, OR, and Betty Smith of Holly Lake, TX.

He was retired military with 21 years of active duty service and 2 years with the Oregon National Guard. He served 10 and a half years in the U.S. Air Force and 10 and a half years in the U.S. Army. He was a decorated veteran serving in combat in both the Korean War 1951-1952, and with B Troop/2nd Batallion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Calvary Division in Vietnam 1965-66. He served overseas at Ramstein/Landstuhl Air Base, W. Germany, Wheelus AFB Tripoli, Libya and with the 3rd Armored Division in Kirshgoens W. Germany. Stateside, he served at Kelly AFB Texas, Mather AFB California, Williams AFB Arizona, Tinker AFB Oklahoma, Scott AFB Illinois, Fort Benning Georgia, Ford Ord California, and retired from Fort Knox Kentucky in 1972.

After military retirement, he was a truck driver 7 years for Wal-Mart; owner/operator with Danny Marsh, Jerry Inman of Tulsa, OK, Willis Shaw of Elm Springs, AR, and Concrete Placement/Brundage Bone of Kansas City. In the late ‘90’s, he volunteered at the VA Medical Center at Fayetteville, AR during the Little Rock shuttle and local shuttle.

He was a member of Springdale Masonic Lodge #316, and belonged to Order of Scimatar Shrine. He was also a member of Fayetteville Elks, VFW, and DAV. In 2002, he became disabled due to during war.

He loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren, his many, many friends, his country and his God. He will be truly missed.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Lowell Baptist Church, Thursday, July 8th in Lowell, Arkansas and burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fayetteville. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 7th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers.

Request in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to U.S. National Cemetery in Fayetteville, the DAV, or the VFW.