William H. Edwards

LTC William H. ("Bill") Edwards was born October 14, 1931, in Camden, Ark., and went to be with his Heavenly Father on March 4, 2017. He attended Fairview High School, graduating in 1949; then received a football scholarship to Ouachita Baptist College. While at Ouachita, he participated in football and track, and was named Captain of the football team in 1952. After graduating through the ROTC program, he received a regular Army commission as a 2nd lieutenant. Shortly after entering the Army, he went through flight school and became an Army Aviator, qualified in helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. He served over 20 years in his military career with five years overseas, one of which was in Vietnam with the First Air Cavalry Division. He was a Major in the 1/9 Cavalry Squadron, flying helicopter gunships. After Vietnam he served three years as DA staff officer in the Pentagon. During his Army career, he commanded two companies and one battalion. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, several awards of the Air Army Commendation Medal, and numerous other theater ribbons. He retired in 1973 as a Lieutenant Colonel and entered the real estate business as a Broker with Sagely and Edwards Company. In 1976, he served as president of the Fort Smith Board of Realtors. In 1977, he was Realtor of the Year for Fort Smith, and that same year was named Arkansas Realtor of the Year. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he served at various times as a deacon, and taught a men's Bible class for over 38 years. He married Nancy Sagely on March 7, 1954, and had three sons: Bill, Jr. and his wife Cindy, their two daughters, Ashley and husband Evan Hill and daughter Charlotte; Jessie and husband Rick Gillham, and son Rich; Mark and his wife Claudia, their two children; Sarah and husband Patrick Marsh and daughter Hannah; Andrew and wife Jordyn; Ken and his wife Janet, and their three sons; Jonathan and wife Miriam, two sons, Jack and Elam; Matthew and wife Caitlin, and Zachary. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A private graveside service will be held at the National Cemetery with the funeral following at First Baptist Church on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at 11 a.m. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Samaritan's Purse or Gospel Rescue Mission, Van Buren. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.