Obituaries

Warren D. Blaylock

Photo of Warren D. Blaylock
Lifelong Crawford County leader and humanitarian, Warren D. Blaylock, 96, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Fort Smith. Warren was well known to almost all in the Fort Smith/Van Buren/Alma area. He grew up just north of Alma, graduated from Alma High School, and later joined the Army during WWII where he served in the 67th Evacuation Hospital, which landed on Normandy days after D-Day and trailed Allied forces throughout Europe. Initially, he entered the war expecting to be a soldier, but he found his calling in the care and management of injured troops. Following the Battle of the Bulge, Blaylock's hospital moved to southern France before he was transported back to the States. Mr. Blaylock was promoted to First Sergeant during his time in Europe and received numerous awards for his efforts, including two Bronze Stars, the Superior Unit Award, and the Combat Medical Badge. He enjoyed sharing pieces of history through his WWII stories with many through personal discussions and public presentations. He returned to Arkansas where he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. For the majority of his professional life, he was Vice-President and General Manager of the Derrel Thomas Company in Van Buren. After his "retirement", he wanted to pursue another way to give back to the civic organizations of the area and became an auctioneer where he facilitated countless charity auctions and events. His giving nature and community spirit was recognized and rewarded countless times throughout Arkansas. A few of the more notable ones were induction into the Arkansas Military Hall of Fame in 2015, as he was one of five inductees selected on the basis of honorable military service and exceptional state and community service. He was recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record in 2009, noted as a "Hometown Hero" in Van Buren in 2016 for his service in WWII, inducted into the Arkansas Senior Hall of Fame in 2013, received the initial Alma Distinguished Alumni Award, the Kathleen Peek Community Service and Advocacy Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of behavioral healthcare, Friends of Senior Citizens Award as well as served over 20 years on the Board of Directors of the Crawford County Senior Citizens. His lifetime of service to the Northwest Arkansas area was highlighted with his leadership in the Van Buren Rotary Club and later, the Fort Smith Rotary Club for a legendary 54 years of perfect attendance as a Rotarian in Northwest Arkansas and was named a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International. He served 41 years on the Board of the Methodist Health and Rehab facilities in Fort Smith, 35 years of service on the Board of Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance, numerous years as a member of the Board of Directors for Crawford Memorial Hospital, Board of Directors of Citizens Bank in Van Buren, Board of Trustees of the Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, Board of Directors of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, Crawford County Board of Education, Alma School Board, Arkansas School Board Association, and countless others. He has been an active member of the Alma Methodist Church for his entire adult life. He held various board positions and served as lay leader throughout Northwest Arkansas. His home on Highway 71 was a Christmas lighting show long before it became popular in other areas of the state. He loved raising livestock on his ranch and enjoyed nothing more than coming home after work and "going to the barn" to see his cows. His family is in awe of the wonderful Christian, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, businessman, and humanitarian that he was while on this earth. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dock and Edna Blaylock of Alma; two brothers, Ronald Blaylock of Paris, Texas, and Russell Blaylock of Mountainburg; as well as his first wife and mother of his children, Ruth Belt Blaylock, and his second wife of 29 years, Donna Blaylock. He will be lovingly missed by his daughter, Lucinda DeBruce and husband Lane of Alma; a son, Darrell Blaylock of Siloam Springs; grandson, Sgt. Jared Lewis of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; granddaughter, Audra Foster and husband Brad of Conway; and great-grandchildren, Logan Lewis, Jillian Lewis, and Morgan Foster; as well as Donna's children, including stepdaughter, Dalana Nugent of Benton; and stepson, Bill Byers of Springdale. Warren was a friend to many but he especially appreciated Pat Widders of Alma and Larry Womack of Fort Smith who tirelessly embodied the true definition of friendship. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery with Military Honors, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, Ark. Pallbearers will be Robin Kuykendall, Pat Widders, Claude Blount, Larry Womack, Tony James, and Mayor Keith Greene. The family extends a blanket invitation for Rotarians to serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will visit with friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2017, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, Ark. To place an online tribute, go to www.edwardsvan-alma.com.

Published March 12, 2017

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