Oscar Woodrow Williams
April 14, 1918 - May 10, 2023

Oscar Woodrow Williams, of Trumann Arkansas, peacefully departed this world on May 10, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. Oscar was born on April 14, 1918 to Harry and Annie Williams of Lepanto. He started working at the early age of 10, working for his daddy cutting firewood and helping clear new ground. Part of that ground was a small farm and homestead near Judd Hill, to which Oscar returned after serving in World War II, settling on the family farm and living there for more than 80 years. Trained as a machinist, Oscar worked for Singer Sewing Machine before the war. He served as a Fireman and Seaman First Class in the Navy during the final stages of World War II. After the war, he farmed for over a decade, then went to work for Colson, then Crane and Jonesboro Tool and Die, ultimately retiring after 31 years. An avid hunter, fisherman, trapper, and baseball player, “Mr. Oscar,” as he was known to six generations, had an exciting, historical, adventurous life, from watching his father and infamous Uncle, Ike Williams, bootleg in the 1920’s, to traveling during wartime, to being recognized as Poinsett County’s resident historian and legendary sportsman. There was nothing he could not catch, trap, or shoot. When asked the secret to longevity, he replied, “Everybody should eat more squirrel.” He also advised that he lived longer because he decided to give up “smoking, drinking, cursing, and gambling”…..at age 12. Finally, he said, he talked to himself every day at the end of the day, saying, “Well, Oscar, you made it another day. Let’s do it again tomorrow!” “Uncle Oscar” was beloved by all who knew him, and, most recently, was honored by the City of Trumann, with Mayor Woods proclaiming April 14, 2023 as “Oscar Williams Day.” Oscar served as the Grand Marshal of a parade in his honor, and joined friends, family, and local and state dignitaries at the Community House to celebrate his 105th birthday. He enjoyed the company of good friends, driving to town to get his Sunday paper, and frequent calls and visits from his great, great niece and “good buddy,” Dana Shaffer; he especially loved his annual fishing adventures with his favorite nephew, David Williams, actively boating, catfishing, and running trot lines with him until the age of 102. Oscar was preceded in death by two wives, Bea and Sue, three sons, Harry Jo Williams, Robert Williams, and toddler Luther Woodrow Williams; one daughter, Geraldine Williams Finley; and one stepson, W.O. Kincaid. He is survived by one daughter, Velma Clark, one stepson, Ron Kincaid, and a host of grandchildren, great- grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, including great, great-great, great-great-great, and great-great-great-great nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all who recently celebrated Oscar, especially Jana Stotts, for making Oscar’s last months happy and his birthday one of “the best days” of his life. A longtime member of the Trumann Lion’s Club and celebrity of both KAIT-TV and the Payneway, Trumann, and Marked Tree communities, Mr. Oscar will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him. The family will receive friends on Saturday May 13th from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. at Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, Ark.  Burial to be held later in the year at Potter Memorial Cemetery in Lepanto. Out of respect for Oscar’s life-long aversion to flowers, and in keeping with Oscar’s love of his community and years of service to others, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Corner’s Chapel Disaster Relief Fund An online register book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net.