William " Bill" Strode June 29, 1948 - March 7, 2020

March 12, 2020

Bill Strode, longtime resident of Moro, passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, at the age of 71. A son of Orvid and Delma (Bowen) Strode, he was born in Marianna. He was a 1966 graduate of Marianna High School and in 1972 entered the US Army. With a love of country and dedication, Bill served twenty years, including two years overseas. Along with an honorable discharge, he received the following medals and citations: National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Infantry Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal.

Bill and Donna Caldwell were married July 12, 1973 and at the conclusion of military service, became residents in the Moro community, where he also served as a member of the Gospel Lighthouse Church. Through the years, Bill worked as a salesman for Bokker’s Used Cars, located in Forrest City.

He is preceded in death by his parents; Orvid and Delma Strode and sister, Etheleen Spain. Immediate family includes his wife, Donna Strode, of Moro; his daughter, Renee Ratton, of Forrest City; three grandchildren, Veronica, Phillip and Kaleb Ferebee; three siblings, Ray Strode of Moro, Yvonne Meek of Kenai, Alaska and Anna Mae Sills of Dardanelle.

Visitation is from 6:00-8:00 PM Sunday, March 15, at the Bob Neal and Sons Funeral Home in Brinkley. Services will be at 2:00 PM Monday at the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Moro, with burial in the Caldwell Family Cemetery. Arrangements by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home in Brinkley.