Billy Wayne ‘Bill’ Rhea, 83, of Wynne, died Sunday, April 7, 2024, at the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis. His death came suddenly and unexpectedly due to an automobile accident.
Mr. Rhea was born Jan. 13, 1941, in Jonesboro, and was the son of Doc Savage Rhea and Shirley Thompson Rhea. He lived in St. Francis County most of his life before moving to Wynne, was retired from Roadway Trucking, and was a member of the Three Trees Cowboy Church in Wynne.
Mr. Rhea graduated from Brookland High School. He played freshman football and lettered in track at ASU in Jonesboro. He was a member of the Block and Bridle and was named Who’s Who, at ASU. He was very active in St. Francis County most of his life. He was a long-time 4-H leader, was very dedicated to horses and dogs, and loved each and every one of them. He had a lifelong passion for introducing many kids to horses and watching them grow to love them as he did.
Mr. Rhea is survived by one son, Bubba Rhea, and wife Sherry Lynn, of Forrest City; one daughter, Robyn Rhea Pipkin, and husband, Wade, of Marianna; one brother, Jim Rhea of Wynne; one sister, Paulette Rhea Horman, and husband, Jim, of Jonesboro; five grandchildren, Meagan Rhea Pipkin, (Bo), of Marianna, Maggie Pipkin Hoskins, (Zach), of Forrest City, Molly Pipkin Bowman, (Heath), of Haynes, Madison Walker Dillon of Forrest City, and Jordan Sipes of Mississippi; and seven great-grandchildren. He had one daughter, Rhea Lynn Sipes, who preceded him in death.
Services for Mr. Rhea will be held at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, with burial in Forrest Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from noon until the time of the service.
Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the St. Francis County 4-H, c/o Robyn Pipkin, 140 East Main Street, Marianna, Arkansas, 72360. You may log on to stevensfuneralhome.net for the online registry.
