William A. Waddell Sr.

William A. (Buddy) Waddell Sr., 82, of Little Rock, Arkansas died on September 17, 2012 at Parkway Health Center in Little Rock. Born in West Helena, Arkansas on September 13, 1930 to Joseph Edward Waddell Sr. and Lessie Mae Muse Waddell, Buddy spent his life in his beloved West Helena, where he was a realtor and home builder for over fifty years. For most of the last three years, Buddy lived at Parkway Village to be near his son. However, in his heart, he never left Helena-West Helena. Buddy married Marilyn Ann Locker on April 25, 1952, and she remained his loyal and devoted partner until her death in 2002. She was the love of his life, and she inspired him to be the outstanding man that he was. To Buddy and Marilyn were born three children, all who survive them: Bill Waddell (and his wife, Patty), Barbara Waddell Culver (and her husband, Chuck), and Mike Waddell (and his wife, Anne). Buddy saw his family legacy in his 10 granddaughters, Laura Culver, Jenny Culver Lee, Jessie Waddell, Christen Waddell, Catherine Waddell, Emily Culver, Grace Waddell, Anna Waddell, Mary Anne Waddell, and Sarah Grace Waddell, and his great-granddaughter, Annie Lee. He loved each of them dearly, and they knew that he was fiercely devoted to their welfare. Buddy is also survived by Julia Bivens Aitken, his special cousin, and his sisters-in-law, Judy Locker Buchanan and Virginia Houston Waddell, all of whom he loved as sisters. Predeceasing him were his mother and father, his brother, Joseph Edward Waddell, Jr., and his faithful aunt and second mother, Novella Muse Bivens. Having lost his mother to cancer at a tender age and having been raised by his Aunt Novella Bivens, he considered family, including a great extended family, to be his greatest treasure. Buddy spent his professional life as a realtor and homebuilder. He began his career in 1950 with J.B. Lambert Real Estate Company and then joined Verne N. Presley Enterprises, Inc., where he was a broker and partner. In 1972, he formed Waddell Realty Company, where he served the community until his retirement in 2009. In addition to his professional work as a realtor and homebuilder, Buddy was active in civic affairs in West Helena. He served as the West Helena City Treasurer from 1956 to 1978. He also served as a longtime member and as chairman of the West Helena Park Commission and the West Helena Promotional Association, working tirelessly on such projects as the West Helena Municipal Golf Course. He also served on the board of Helena Hospital, the West Helena Housing Authority, and the Helena-West Helena Residential Housing Facilities Board. He was deeply committed to his faith family, the West Helena United Methodist Church, where he was involved in the building, finance, and pastor parish relations committees as well as the board of trustees. These brothers and sisters in Christ, who had loved Buddy, Marilyn, and their children over many years and who had shaped them spiritually in their own special way, had his deep gratitude. They and his community were also the beneficiaries of his time, talents, gifts, witness, and service - the kind of stewardship that men like Buddy believed were the essence of a faithful response to God's love for him. Buddy also served his and other families as their baseball coach and scoutmaster. Over the years, he cherished the visits from young men who came to express their gratitude to him for giving him their time. Together with Marilyn, Buddy cultivated a family culture that knit closely the hearts of his children and grandchildren. He hoped beyond hope that the family bonds he engendered would last from generation to generation, and he worked hard even as his health declined to always be the center of his family. A memorial service to celebrate Buddy's life will be held at the West Helena United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on September 20. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19 at Roller Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena. The most cherished memorials to Buddy would be a renewed commitment to family, faith, and community. If additional memorial expressions are desired, the family suggests contributions to the West Helena United Methodist Church, the Marilyn Locker Waddell Scholarship Fund at the Arkansas United Methodist Foundation, or the American Cancer Society. He lived fully the life given to him. Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena will direct (870) 572-2571. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.