Wayne Haver

Russell Wayne Haver, age 83, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed into his Savior’s arms on September 6th, 2026. He was born on November 23, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Charles David and Onis Oberah Haver.

Wayne graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1959 where he ran track and then entered Ouachita Baptist University on a track scholarship and earned his Bachelor of Science in Education. He later earned a master’s degree in education as well as a specialist degree in Education at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in the 1970s.

After graduation from Ouachita, Wayne entered the U.S. Army out of ROTC as a 2nd Lt. on July 6, 1964, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana. He was called back to active duty in May 1968 and went to Vietnam (Quang Tri Combat Base, which was 10 miles from North Vietnam) until August 1969.

Wayne married the love of his life, Jan Anne O’Neel, on September 19, 1964. They would have celebrated 62 years of marriage this month.

After his years of military service, he taught Business at Northside and Southside High schools from 1970-1974. He then became the Assistant Principal of Southside in 1974 and served in that position until 1983. In 1982 he was hired as the Principal of Southside and served in that capacity until 2018. He served 48 total years at his beloved Southside High School, with 36 years as principal. His harmonica playing at pep rallies was one of his favorite parts of his job. He is recognized as one of the longest-serving high school principals in the state and received many national, state, and local awards.

He was very involved in the community, serving on the Fort Smith Airport Commission from July 2004 to June 30, 2019, and the Fort Smith Teachers Federal Credit Union. He was a member of the local American Legion Post 31, where he was involved in the Girls State and Boys State programs as well as the yearly American Legion Oratory Contest that provides scholarships for students.

First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, had been his spiritual home since 1964. He served as a deacon for many years, taught Sunday School for over 50 years and served on many committees. His Bible is permeated with notes from 55 years of sermons and lessons. It is now barely held together by duct tape.

Wayne had a love of airplanes and flying. While in high school, he worked at the Public Library in North Little Rock. He saved enough money for flying lessons and obtained his pilot’s license before he obtained his driver’s license. In 1999, Carl Riggins, Ralph Freeman, and he started the Fort Smith Air Museum. It is located in the Fort Smith Regional Airport Terminal with 56 displays honoring aviation pioneers and military aviators from Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.

Wayne loved his family and taking good care of them was his priority after his relationship with God. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Onis and his brothers Charles David and Gary Layne. He is survived by his wife, Jan, daughter, Lea Anne Brooks (Clint), granddaughter Elissabeth Haver Brown (Cameron), and great grandson, Wayne Reid Brown.

Celebration of Life will be 11:00 AM Friday, September 11, 2026, at First Baptist Church. Private family burial will be prior to the service.

The family will visit with friends following the service.