William Howard Berry
March 29, 1927 - August 16, 2021

William Howard Berry followed his wife of 68 years by a mere 22 days into Heaven, where they are united along with their baby daughter. “Howard,” as he was known to his Arkansas kinfolk, or Bill, as he was known since joining the military in 1945, was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Mary Jean Landrum Berry, daughter Kathi Lou Berry, his mother, Ruby Arnold Berry, father Jonnie Berry, stepmother Nora Hamm, and his sister, Catherine Rose Cope Ishoo. He leaves behind four loving daughters: Roz Berry, Julie Clark, Darla Berry and Melinda Wooten, and three sons-in-law: Paul Clark, Philip D’Antoni and Joe Wooten. Also missing their grandparents are: Mike Clark, Nicole Caples, Kelly Merritt (Lance), Shannon Caples and Laura Batlle (Joe); and great-grandchildren Raven Trevino, Rachel Richeson, Lilly Clark, Chase Merritt, Jake Merritt and Phoenix Barber. He also will be remembered by his sisters, Berniece Boyd and Greta Wilson, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Bill grew up in the Ozarks, primarily Old Joe and Guion, where his strong grandmother held the family together and ran a country store and post office. He worked the farm, served as a fishing guide and helped build the Norfolk Dam. At a young age, he left home to join the military, serving in the Army, and leaving briefly to earn his Associates’ degree at Arkansas State University. He then entered the Air Force, where he graduated from flight school trained as a fighter pilot. He met Jean during a visit to Mississippi with a buddy and convinced her to leave her beloved home and join the military life for 23 years. Bill served in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and numerous bases in the U.S., retiring at the rank of Major to Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1968, where he returned to Arkansas State University and earning a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management. He went on the work at Arkansas State University at the Physical Plant for many years. He loved serving his country and working on airplanes and cars. He was a loving father, and always had a dog by his side or in his lap—they often had a streak of grease on their backs from hanging out with him in the garage. He had a big heart and loved a corny joke, and shared many. He was known to pull over to move a turtle out of the road. He could fix just about anything, build a deck, hook up a computer and make biscuits and gravy. He was intelligent, humble, gentle and funny. Like many dads, he had his sayings: “Put brain in gear before engaging mouth” “Make yourself useful as well as ornamental” “Brute force and perseverance win out over skill and cunning every time” …and others. He was loved by many—many of whom have gone before. Bill and Jean Berry had a long and successful marriage, as she shared at his 70th birthday (24 years ago!), “We’ve had so many happy times—camping trips, driving the Alcan highway, having babies. You taught me “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” You really taught me to laugh. Through the ups and downs, there is no one I would rather share my life with.” This brief tribute cannot possibly share the impact of his big heart on the world. He was a member of Walnut Street Baptist Church for decades and attended regularly. His life will be celebrated in a memorial video and shared on Facebook, YouTube and at this link: https://youtu.be/l4AvvgPJYc0 Donations may be made to Northeast Arkansas Humane Society (https://www.neahs.org/support-us).