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William Farris Obituary
William S. (Bill) Farris, 98, of Lafayette, passed away at his residence in University Place on April 23. Bill was born in Alma, Arkansas December 20, 1916, the son of William and Viola Starbird Farris. He married Ramona Brown in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1939. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in 1937 and an M.S. in 1946. He earned a Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1955 and joined the faculty of the Department of Agricultural Economics, where he specialized in grain marketing. Bill's research took him to many parts of the world to study exports of corn and soybeans and to analyze the competition for these from other countries. Early in his career, Bill served as manager of two Agricultural Experiment Stations for the University of Arkansas, where he supervised research on a variety of crops. From 1947 to 1952, he taught agricultural marketing at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. During his stay in Jonesboro, he acted as lay minister for a local congregation of the Church of Christ, and later served for many years as an elder of the Elmwood Church of Christ in Lafayette.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Ramona, brothers Elmer and Don, and sisters, Hilda and Wanda. He is survived by his sons, William S. Farris, Jr. of Alva, Florida and Jon R. Farris of Granville, Ohio; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A funeral service celebrating the life of Bill Farris will be at Elmwood Church of Christ at 3:00 pm Sunday, April 26th. Interment will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. Arrangements by Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
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Memories and Condolences
for William Farris
April 28, 2015
Bill, I am so sorry to hear of your dad's death. He and your mother were such good friends to me when I still lived in West Lafayette. We spent many days together. Two nicer people I have never known. May they rest in peace together.
Margaret (Shuman) Treece
Pamela (Pam) Seng
April 27, 2015
Sorry to learn of the loss in the family ! I grew up with the Church of Christ families. Bill and Ramona fly with the Angels and say Hi to Joe White and the other Elder's in Heaven.....
Becky Darby Leto
April 26, 2015
My family was blessed to have known Bill.
April 25, 2015
Our thoughts are with your family. Catherine, Morgan and Konlan Davis
Jim and Christy Reece
April 25, 2015
Such a wonderful life. Bill Farris is at the top of the list of the most GODLY lives that we have been privileged to know. Regardless of our frames-of-mind it was always such an uplifting joy to speak and visit with him. His prayers in public worship were a special spiritual treat as they were so sincere and inspirational. He fought the good fight of faith valiantly, and is now positioned to enjoy an eternity of unimaginable joy with his Savior and his precious Ramona. Heaven must be a little sweeter today while the earth is much the poorer with his passing. Thank you, Bill, for the gifts of the indelible positive impressions you bestowed upon each of us.
Earl and Janet Nelson
April 25, 2015
Bill and Jon, it was a joy to have your dad as a friend, teacher and elder. We will always remember him with love and appreciation.
Jim Hand
April 25, 2015
I am saddened to learn of Bill's death. He was a wonderful man and full of great faith. I now live in Florida, but I have thought of him often over the years. He made an impression on me.
Randy-Kathy Sims
April 24, 2015
Farris Family, our thoughts are with you. God Bless.
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