Bill Camp

William (Bill) Paul Camp, 88, of Lincoln, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville, Arkansas, surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 14,1934, in Mineral Springs, Arkansas to the late Ervin and Mildred Camp. He was a member of the Arkansas National Guard.

Bill attended Mineral Springs school house through third grade then transferred to Greenland where he graduated in 1954. He was an avid basketball player even scouted by the Arkansas Razorbacks his senior year. He often told stories to his kids and grandkids about playing on a dirt court.

Bill spent all his life in the West Fork and Lincoln areas. He married Mary Elizabeth Farrar in 1957. They had one son, Ricky. Mary passed away in a tragic traffic accident in 1959. In 1962, Bill married Sheila Cowan. They were married for 61 years and had three children: Paul, Lisa, and Shawn. Bill was a loving, devoted, and hardworking son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was always there to support his large family and loved spending time with them.

Bill worked hard all his life. He began as a young child working on the farm with his mother and father and would continue that support throughout their lives. During high school, he spent weekends working with his dad at a sawmill near West Fork. He owned a mechanic shop in Summers, Arkansas for a brief time before securing a job as the manager at Empire Gas in Lincoln where he sold propane for 35 years until forced to stop due to a sudden illness. He would battle that illness for 27 years but that did not stop him from continuing to raise chickens and cattle full time until the last two years of his life. He was a dedicated employee and was well-respected by his customers and community.

Bill was a friend to all animals and cared so much for their well-being. In addition to cattle and chickens, he always had a horse, a pet cow, lots of dogs, cats, and houses for birds. When his last bunch of chickens left the farm, he fed and cared for the strays for over a year.
Bill loved anything outdoors (fishing, boating, canoeing, camping) but his passion was sports. He was a devoted Razorback and Dodgers’ fan and enjoyed watching games with his family. At the end of every season, he told everyone how good they were going to be next year. Bill had so many kids and grandkids that picked up his love of sports and he rarely missed a game.
Bill was a kind, generous, and loving man who will be deeply missed by his family and friends. We will always remember his smile, sense of humor, and love of life.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Mildred Camp, great grandparents, Paul and Lela Swonger; his first wife, Mary, his son, Ricky, and his brother-in-law, Bob Fields.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sheila of the home; three children, Paul Camp and his wife Kathleen of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Shawn Camp and his wife Gena of Cave Springs, Arkansas, Lisa Camp Williams and husband Paul of Prairie Grove, Arkansas and a daughter in law, Mindi Jones of Denison, TX; eleven grandchildren, Ashley Dennis Lester, Brandon Camp, Ryan Dennis, Lauren Dennis Williams, Brent Camp, Derrick Enneking, Lindsey Camp Hubbard, William (Cole) Dennis, Dylan Camp, Logan Camp, and Dalton Camp; twelve great-grandchildren, Lexi, Ayden, Jaxon, Hudson, Adi, Ashur, LeahKate, Elli, Reid, Duke, Bryar, and Laken; three sisters, Peggy Camp Fields of Lincoln, Jane Camp Kisner and her husband Leon of Siloam Springs, Kathy Camp Rankin and her husband Gary of Prairie Grove; and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 15, at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, with a memorial service at 1:00 PM on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Luginbuel. Burial will be at Bethesda cemetery in Lincoln, Arkansas.