Veral "Birddog" Fender Jr.

Veral L. “Birddog” Fender, Jr., 75, of Fort Smith, died April 5, 2016 in Fort Smith. He was born September 19, 1940 in Carbondale, CO to Veral L. and Bessie F. Thompson Fender. He spent his childhood and youth hunting, fishing, and riding the Rocky Mountains. Veral moved to Arkansas first locating in Booneville, and later settling in Fort Smith, where he worked for Pradco for ten years before joining the Bruce Rogers Company. Veral was an avid bowler and succeeded in rolling several 300 games in his 30 years of bowling.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel of the home; two daughters, Sheila Fender and Rebecca Aird both of Greenwood; one son, Mark Fender of Greenwood; eight grandchildren, Markus Fender, Jr., Nicholas Fender, Charlie Phelan, Michael Phelan, Brandi Waggoner, Heather Joe London, Tisha Rowley and Tasha Conley; and fourteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one step son, Rodney Aird.

Memorial service will be Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Services and cremation are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am prior to the memorial service.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 211 Natural Resources, Little Rock, AR 72205.

The family requests that friends place an online tribute at www.edwardsfuneralhome.com