Hugh Word Obituary (1922 - 2017) - Russellville, Arkansas

Hugh Word, 95, of Russellville, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life surrounded by his family on November 26, 2017 at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born on November 7, 1922 in Staves, Arkansas (Cleveland County) to Carl Clinton and Melissa Evelyn Tatum Word. Left to cherish his memory are three daughters and a son-in- law, Melinda Word of Russellville, Dianne Moore of Shreveport, and Carol Harrison and her husband Darol of Russellville; five grandchildren, Patrick Yoder (Liz) of Houston, Carl Yoder (Simone) of New Orleans, Matt Harrison of Little Rock, Corey Harrison (Melissa) of Conway, and Mallory Harrison who attends college in Searcy; four great-grandsons, Oliver and Graham Yoder and Thomas and Winston Yoder; a nephew, Carl Word (Julie) and two nieces, Deborah Word and Laurie Johnson (Keith). He also leaves behind many friends who were like family to him. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at Humphrey Funeral Chapel. The memorial service will begin at 11:00 am at the Chapel, with Tim Tripp officiating. He was a retired pipefitter and a member of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 155 in Little Rock. He was a World War II veteran and served with the 306th Airdrome Squadron in the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific as an aviation mechanic on multiple platforms including the B-24 Liberator and the P-38 Lightning. He was also a veteran of the Korean War where he served in the United States Air Force (formerly the Army Air Corp). Hugh was very proud of his service to his country and could still tell you the name of almost every "buddy" he served with and where they were from. Before going overseas to serve his country, he was part of the Civilian Conservation Corp in Paron, Arkansas, where he built roads and recreation areas. His youngest daughter, Carol, camped many times at a Girl Scout camp he helped build during his time in the CCC. He had an amazing memory and recounted stories from the war and his life in vivid detail. He was a loving husband and father and a loyal friend. He was preceded in death by his wife, Audra Johnston Word, whom he married on July 14, 1946; his parents; two sisters, Clara Mignon Stringfellow and Merle Juanita Word; and two brothers, Lloyd Otis Word and William Loren Word; a son-in- law, Dr. Winston E. Moore, Jr. Hugh was a member of the West Side Church of Christ where he attended faithfully until two weeks before his passing. He enjoyed working in his yard and mowed his lawn every week in the spring and summer and raked his leaves in the Fall. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family, and in his younger days, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an excellent auto mechanic. His wish was for his remains to be cremated and then interred in the family plot at the Campground Cemetery in Hampton, Arkansas. The family would like to offer our heartfelt appreciation to the Hospice Home nurses and staff and to Dr. Robert Thurlby for the excellent care they gave our father and grandfather. They treated him with gentleness and respect and gave him dignity and peace during this most difficult time. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 220 John Babish Lane, Russellville, AR 72801, (www.arkansashospice.org) and to Southern Christian Children's Home, 100 W Harding St, Morrilton, AR 72110, (www.schome.org). Internet obituary and online guestbook may be found at www.humphryfuneral.com.