Donnie Green

Donnie R. Green, 76, of Fort Smith, passed away Sunday, October 23, 2016. He was born August 2, 1940 in Woodward, Oklahoma to Virgil W. and Jerry Green. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Eddie M. Green.

He attended Fort Smith Junior High and Fort Smith Senior High School where he graduated in 1958. In high school, he was the head drum major, a member of the Key Club and a member of the 1958 Bruin Hall of Fame. Known by his classmates as “Fellows”, he and his wife, Nancy, have chaired every class reunion for the class of 1958.

After high school, he attended the University of Tulsa on a full drum major scholarship and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He also played clarinet in the Concert Orchestra, was President of the Circle K Club and Lieutenant Governor of the Tri-State Circle K Club.

After college, he returned to Fort Smith where he was reunited with the love of his life, Nancy Young, in 1963. They were married in 1964 and have been happily married for 52 years. He also embarked upon his business career and was an active volunteer his entire adult life, serving his community in many ways.

He began his career at Riverside Terminal Warehouse and spent the majority of his career in materials management and distribution having been the Director of Materials for PRADCO for many years. Most recently, he was the Sales Manager for Arkansas Warehouse, Inc. where he worked for almost 20 years.

He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years serving in many different capacities. He was the Assistant Scout Master for Troops 4 at Eastside Baptist Church and Troop 23 at First Presbyterian Church. For the Westark Area Council, he served as Commissioner, Council President and was a member of the Council’s Executive Board for 20 years. He chaired the first Council Scout Expo in 1965 and originated and chaired the Annual Boy Scout Lifetime Alumni Award Banquet for many years. He was a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, a James E. West Fellow and a Woodbadge staff member. In 1985, he was the Assistant Scout Master for the Council Contingent to the National Jamboree in Virginia. He was also a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, the Distinguished Commissioner Award, the Butterfield Trail District Award of Merit and the Golden Eagle Award.

He was the founder and Charter President of the Commissary Kiwanis Club in 1964 and was a Lieutenant Governor of the Arkansas Missouri District of Kiwanis International. He was a member of the Fort Smith School Board and served as President in 1984. He was also a member of the Sebastian County Board of Education and served as President in 1995.

He was a Past President of the Fort Smith Racquet Club, the Fort Smith Town Club, the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) and the National Association of Purchasing Management (Fort Smith Chapter). He was also a Past Chairman of the Fort Smith Auditorium / Civic Center Commission and a member of the Fort Smith Port Authority.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, a Ruling Elder and a past Sunday School Superintendent. He was also active as an Advisory Board Member of the Fort Smith School System Partner in Education program and the Fort Smith Central Business and Professional Development Board at UAFS.

In addition to work and his community service, he loved to spend time grilling, reminiscing about driving around Fort Smith on his Cushman Eagle motorcycle, perfecting the art of Dutch oven cooking, playing the ukulele and listening to jazz and Dixie land music. Most importantly, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Whether it was dancing with his wife, Nancy, their weekly Sunday night family dinners or just being with all of them at their lake house at Mountain Harbor Resort on Lake Ouachita, they were his pride and joy and they will miss him dearly.

He is survived by wife, Nancy; his daughter, Meredith Simpson and her husband, Dan of Fort Smith; his son, Jason and his wife, Kim, of Fort Smith; seven grandchildren, Paige Simpson Snider and her husband Reed of Okinawa, Japan and Evan Simpson, Rachel Simpson, Reiss Clemons, Abby Clemons, Will Green and Jack Green, all of Fort Smith; one niece, Kellie Brown and her son, Caleb Brown, his wife Amanda and their daughter Bella, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also survived by Lashar, Marsh, Alan and Myra LaVenue and their families.

A private family burial will be held on Saturday, October 29 with a memorial service to follow at 1 pm at First Presbyterian Church. The family will visit with friends after the memorial service in the church Fellowship Hall. Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 from 8 – 5 pm at Edwards Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers will be Kirk Bockelman, Bryan Feather, Dave Galloway, Brian Gilker, Bob Gillson and Barton Hindley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westark Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 1401 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, AR 72901.

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com