William Earl “Bill” LaFarra, 92, of McGehee, Arkansas passed away November 21, 2018. He was born in Greenwood, MS on August 5, 1926 to the late Earl N. LaFarra and Essie Powell LaFarra. Bill was active in Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII serving in the Pacific on the U.S.S. Lander as radio technician during the Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and later served in the Naval Reserve during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was an Electronics Technician for 37 years for the Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad. He was faithful in the First Baptist Church of McGehee serving as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. His lifetime interests included Amateur (Ham) Radio with call signs of W5ZCC and W5BF, photography of McGehee Owl sports and family, and traveling and camping with his children and grandchildren, especially enjoying the white sandy beaches of Florida.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Jeffrey Jones and his sister, Mary Mann of Alexandria.VA. Survivors include his wife of 70 ½ years, Verle Methvin LaFarra; three daughters; Janice (Ken) Ramsey of Arkadelphia, AR; Dolores (Keith) Brown of Warren, AR and Nancy (Les) Abernathy of McGehee, AR; sister-in-law, Anita Nokes of Greenwood, MS and brother-in-law, Glenn Methvin of Owens Crossroads, AL; six grandchildren, Amanda (J.D.) Martin of Houston, TX, Jonathan (Morgan) Wilson of Jonesboro, AR, Matt (Jessica) Ramsey of Maumelle, AR, Perry (Lindsey) Jones of Madison, MS, Adrienne (Larry Don) Miles of McGehee, AR and Sarah (Blaine) Starr of Warren, AR; five step-grandchildren, Brett Abernathy, Natalie Abernathy, Kari Epperson, Chet Brown and Alex Brown; 23 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 1-2pm Saturday, November 24, 2018 at First Baptist Church of McGehee in McGehee, AR. Funeral services will follow at 2pm at the church with Rev. Rick Miller officiating. Burial will be held at McGehee Cemetery.