William D. Vines

William D “Bill” Vines went home to the Lord on December 10, 2025, just 15 days short of his 89th birthday. Bill was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1936, in Monett, Missouri, to William and Ava Vines. He attended Fort Smith High School and the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He married his college sweetheart, Carolyn Sue Dickson, and worked for her father at Homer Dickson Dental Laboratory in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He later went on to handle public relations and advertising for several other companies. Bill had been in the ROTC in high school, then joined the Army and later went on to join the Air Force. He was a patriot who loved our country and served in the military with pride, becoming a major in the Air National Guard. He served the 188th Wing unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard for more than 40 years. He was very involved in civic affairs, serving on the Fort Smith City Council and as Mayor of Fort Smith for 2 terms. Bill was a past Commander of the American Legion Post 31 and also established Q&A, an ongoing open forum featuring local, state and national leaders. He cofounded Crimestoppers of Fort Smith and Van Buren, and helped launch the General William O. Darby Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. Bill was a graduate of the City of Fort Smith Citizens Academy, the Sebastion County Citizens Academy, and the FBI Citizens Academy. Poppy, as he was called by his beloved grandchildren, had a zest for life and a big personality. He loved laughing, had a positive outlook and was always thankful for his friends and family. He loved riding around in his convertible with the top down getting his famous tan, going to the beach, playing tennis, eating at buffets, jogging around the Hardscrabble Country Club golf course, dancing with and bragging about his daughters, and caroling every Christmas in the neighborhood with Laura and Elizabeth and their friends. He was a devoted father, attending all of his daughters’ tennis matches and performances. When his girls went off to Baylor University, he and Sue never missed an opportunity to travel to Waco to see them and spend time with their friends. Poppy was proud of his five grandchildren and loved time with them. He moved to Tyler the last year and a half of his life to be closer to his daughters and their husbands and his grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory is his loving family including daughters Laura Vines Lodwick and husband, Pete; three children, Matthew, Leslie, and Caroline and husband Jack Taylor, all of Dallas, Texas; and Elizabeth Vines Sharkey and husband, Paul of Tyler, Texas, and two children, Katherine Sharkey of Tyler, Texas, and William and wife, Abigail, of North Carolina. He is also survived by beloved sisters, Diana Vines Yandell of Sandy, UT, and Vicki Vines Jamison and husband Charles of Bartlett, TN, and numerous nieces and nephews. His family is grateful for the loving care of the staff at Brookdale East and the Hospice of East Texas. A memorial service honoring Bill will be held on Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Arrangements by Stewart Family Funeral Home. Bill was an enthusiastic member of Calvary Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 2301 Midland Boulevard, Fort Smith, AR 72904 or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.

William D. Vines

December 25, 1936 - December 10, 2025