Bill Ashley

Bill Ashley, 89, of Maumelle, Arkansas passed away July 16, 2025.  Bill was born in Natchez, Mississippi on August 30, 1935. Bill grew up in a small community about 25 miles Southeast of Natchez. He had a loving mother who diligently studied the scriptures and was faithful to them. Her vast knowledge of the Bible made her an excellent teacher. Bill obeyed the Gospel on August 26, 1950, at the Church of Christ in Buffalo, Mississippi.

Bill finished high school in 1954 at Crosby Consolidated High School and went to college on an athletic scholarship (football). Later Bill met the love of his life Pat at the College Street Church of Christ in Lafayette, Louisiana.

In 1959, Bill finished college with a B.S. degree in ElectricalEngineering and started his career as an Electrical Engineer in Natchez. Bill joined the Air National Guard and completed basic training, later serving six years in the National Guard. Bill married Pat in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In 1963 they moved to Florence, Alabama where Bill accepted a job with the Reynolds Metals Company as a Project Engineer. It was in Florence, Alabama that their daughter Sharon was born. In 1974 Bill accepted the position as Electrical Superintendent at Reynolds in Arkadelphia. Bill later went to work for the U.S Army Missile Command as Project Engineer in the TOW project office. Bill’s primary responsibility was the night sight which is an infraredsight used to see at night. Bill also worked to overcome countermeasures that the enemy developed, making sure the new night sights met the requirements.

Bill was a faithful servant throughout his life. He humbly served as a teacher in youth groups, was active in preacher selection, was a deacon, and later served as an Elder for the Cabot Church of Christ.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John W. Ashley and Junita Netterville Ashley, a brother, John D. Ashley and a grandson, Ryan Lawrence Woodson.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia Madeley Ashley: one daughter, Sharon Ashley Woodson and husband Bruce Alan Woodson; and one grandson, Brady Tyler Woodson and wife Emily Rebecca Woodson. Bill was a strong loving leader and mentor of our family, and he will be greatly missed.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 AM with a funeral service starting at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Smith Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107).