Photo courtesy of Shinn Funeral Service
Russellville, Arkansas
Nov 15, 1935 – Nov 26, 2016 (Age 81)
William Eldon "Bill" Newsom, 81, of Russellville, who was editor of The Courier for 37 years, passed away at St. Mary's Hospital on November 26, 2016. He was born November 15, 1935, at Beebe, the son of Eldon Newsom and the former Mary Appoline Smoot. Newsom retired at the end of 1997, completing a 45-year career that included three years as editor of the weekly Morrilton Democrat and five years at the Paragould Daily Press where he started working part-time as a high school junior. He volunteered as a tutor with the Pope County Literacy Council, teaching English as a second language to natives of several countries around the world. He was a past chairman of the Pope County Literacy Council board of directors and the Pope County Library Board, and a past president of the Russellville Lions Club, of which he was a member for over thirty years. He was a member of the Hughes Center building committee. He served nine years in the Arkansas Army National Guard. Newsom was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of forty-four years, Joyce June Newsom. Survivors include his close and loving friend, Sue Robinson, a daughter and son-in-law Angela Kay and Gregory M. Hopkins of Little Rock and two grandchildren, Alison Michelle Hopkins and Gregory Michael Hopkins II, both of Dallas, Texas. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at the Shinn Chapel by the Rev. Roy Smith. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park by Shinn Funeral Service. Honorary pallbearers will be former co-workers at The Courier. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at Shinn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Manna House in care of First United Methodist Church, 304 S. Commerce Ave., Russellville, Arkansas, 72801. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.
Mr.Newson.....fond memories ..early 80's, Patti,Nancy & the gang. Respectfully,
Patricia Cossey
December 04, 2016 | Acquaintance
Mr. Newsom was a good newspaperman who I enjoyed working with in the mid-1980s. Russellville has a lot of great folks who take civic pride seriously. Mr. Newsom loved his community and it showed. He will be missed.
Tim Yarbrough
November 29, 2016 | Little Rock, AR | Coworker
I had known of Bill even as a child when he became editor of what was then the Daily Courier-Democrat. I read his "Banter by Bill" column every day. Then, many years later, I went to work for him in the newsroom of the Courier, first as a general assignment reporter and later as the paper's area editor. Bill and I became friends and I cherish the memories of our afternoon coffee breaks with the late Gerald Edgar. Mr. Edgar had been one of my journalism professors at ATU. I learned so much...
RON BUTTS
November 28, 2016 | DARDANELLE, AR | Coworker
Having worked with Bill from 1960-70, I was the recipient of his many journalism skills, which I have used through the years. The newspaper world was greatly enhanced because of Bill Newsom. It saddens my heart to hear of his passing.
Joyce Tucker
November 27, 2016 | Gray, GA
