Francis 'Bill' O'Rear

FRANCIS "BILL" MERLE O'REAR

Cedar Rapids

Francis "Bill" Merle O'Rear, 95, of Pine Bluff,

Ark., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018. Funeral services:

3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Bill was born Feb. 22, 1923, the son of Robert and Mary (Kinion) O'Rear in Foster, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. Bill worked in auto repair, was a truck driver and later owned and operated his own business, Coralville Frame and Axle. On Aug. 27, 1983, he was married to Frances Louise Benefield in Nashua, Iowa.

Bill enjoyed his family, fishing and stock car racing. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and was a show pigeon exhibitor.

Survivors include his wife, Frances L. O'Rear; four children, Cecelia Burger, Garry (Rose) O'Rear, Anita (Richard Jr.) English and Terry O'Rear; eight grandchildren, Laura, Christopher, Bryan, Jeremy, Briana, Justin, Jessica and Morgan; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a stepdaughter, Jayne Lawson; and a stepson, Steve Leonard.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha O'Rear; granddaughter, Heather English; parents; four brothers, three sisters; and a son-in-law, Terry Burger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116, in memory of Bill.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.