WARREN — Wilburn Ralph (Rusty) Rowell,

age 88, of Warren, Ark., died Wednesday, February 19th in Warren, Ark.

He was born September 24, 1931, in Warren, Ark., a son of the late Wilburn Leon Rowell and Doris Herring Rowell Clayton.

He was a retired Logging Superintendent with Potlatch Lumber Company for over 30 years, he was a founding member, deacon and Sunday school teacher of Westside Baptist Church for 50 years, a graduate of Arkansas A and M college majoring in Forestry, and he played football. Rusty was also known as the “Mayor of Prospect”, he always greeted one with a smile, and when ready, fresh vegetables from his big garden, mainly greens, which resulted in a 20year run of the annual “Worming of the Preachers” that included a huge meal of Greens, for all the area preachers to come and enjoy fellowship. He loved to have a conversation about Jesus, a good laugh, and wanted to leave an everlasting impression of the happy and positive God-fearing man he was. Rusty loved chauffeuring his grandkids, traveling on trail rides — naming the trails after each of them. He loved rooting for the Lumberjacks on Friday nights, the Saturday Gideon breakfast at Molly’s diner, followed by coffee and dessert at Aunt Betty’s and Uncle Charles O’Neal’s house. He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War and a hospice volunteer for 8 years. He served on the Bradley County Medical Board and the Farm Bureau board for years.

He was also preceded in death by step-father, Hercial Clayton, and sister, Pat Rowell Tucker. Rusty is survived by the love of his life, Marilyn Lee Rowell, whom he married August 14th, 1954, and this marriage and friendship spanned for 65 years. He and Marilyn have 4 children, Skip Rowell and spouse Brenda, White Hall, Ark., Stewart Rowell and spouse Kelly, Warren, Ark., Beverly Crabb, spouse Derek, Mountain Home, Ark., and Melinda Anders and spouse Andy, Warren, Ark., 17 cherished grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A sister Barbara Clayton Mitchel of Warren, Ark.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, February 23rd at Westside Baptist Church. Burial in Parker Prospect Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Visitation 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. Saturday at Frazer’s Funeral Home. Memorials preferred to the Westside Baptist Church or the Gideons. Guestbook www.frazerfuneralhome.com.