William Charles Cosby

William Charles Cosby, 79, of Springdale, Arkansas passed away February 1, 2017 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. Charles was born August 9, 1937 to Will and Lena Cosby in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was pre-deceased by his parents and step-son, Clayton Heath Lesley. He is survived by Beverly, his beloved wife of 33 years, of the home and his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Donna Cosby of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is also survived by the lights of his life, his grandchildren – grandson, Marine Corps Captain Stephen Grant Cosby and wife Olivia of North Carolina and granddaughter, Morgan Cosby of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Charles leaves behind a host of extended family, friends, and co-workers who have all been deeply touched by him in so many ways. Charles was a scholarship baseball player at Oklahoma State University. After his sophomore year, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and had a short career in the minor league system. After returning home, Charles graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. He served six years in the Arkansas Army National Guard. Charles was an avid golfer and played for many years at Paradise Valley Golf Club. He retired from Ozarks Electric Cooperative Corporation after 38 years, ending his career as President/CEO. Charles was a member of the Johnson Church of Christ. He was a member of the Northside Rotary Club in Fayetteville. He also served with the Fayetteville Jaycees as well as the Chambers of Commerce in Fayetteville, Springdale, and Stillwell, Oklahoma. He was a Mason with the 549th Masonic Lodge in Westville, Oklahoma. Charles served as a member of the Board of Directors for NARTI, United Way of Washington County, the National Cooperative Services Corporation of Herndon, Va., and both Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Little Rock. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home & Crematory in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Services will be held at Johnson Church of Christ, 5602 Elmore St., Springdale, Arkansas on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 10 a.m. with Larry Culbreath officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. Lunch will be served after the committal service at Johnson Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children's Homes, Inc. 5515 Walcott Road Paragould, Ark. 72450 or to Arkansas Children's Northwest 4093 West Sunset Ave. Suite 102 Springdale, Ark. 72762. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com, Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home & Crematory.