Dr. William Lee Steele

William Lee Steele was born 11 February 1922 in Kansas City, Mo. His parents were Hazel Orr Steele of Emporia, Kan. and Thomas Price Steele of Gentry, Ark. His mother's parents descended from Kansas homesteaders. His father's family members were residents of Benton County prior to the Civil War. William Steele graduated from the University of Arkansas (Bachelor of Science in Medicine) and the Arkansas School of Medicine in 1946 (M.D.). His military service in several grades extended from 1942 to 1949. He graduated from the School of Aviation Medicine. His service included assignments in the Northwest USA, Western Canada and Alaska. He was attached to the 4-7-11 Troop Carrier Squadrons as flight surgeon and served in Air Rescue Operations and crash investigations. He received a commendation for an Alaska assignment and participated in the first jet-assisted takeoff (PBY) at McChord Field, Washington. He was a board certified Orthopedic surgeon and a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, achieving these after internship, general practice residency and orthopedic residency under his mentor Dr. Dana Street. Tribute is also given to Drs. Fount Richardson, W Jack Butt and Col. Harvey B. Porter for their guidance. William is survived by his wife, Gypsy Dona Steele as well as his children Jacqui Lee Steele Lincoln and her husband Ivy, Karen Jane Steele Hart and her husband Bill, Cynthia Ann Steele Moss, John William Steele, and his wife's daughter Tammy Lynn Seeds and her husband Bob. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Naomi Mendel Stratton, Sarah Mendel Johnson and her husband Len, Julia Lincoln Sites and her husband Matt, Dr. Daniel Lincoln and Sara Schwald, Dr. Allison Moss Johnson and her husband Dr Jeff, Emily Moss Runyan and her husband Brad, and Madison Elaine Harris; and nine great-grandchildren, Katie Stratton, Chloe Stratton, Ellery Lincoln, Bishop Sites, Cassidy Sites, Harrison Sites, Jack Johnson, Hannah Runyan and Isabella Runyan. Special family friends include Dee Plunkett and Garry Plunkett. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, December 27, 2015 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, (501) 224-8300, officiated by Monsignor James E Mancini, assisted by Len Johnson. Family visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to Arkansas Children's Hospital in memory of Ruth Beall. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.