William Leon Slaten

William Leon Slaten, age 91, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, passed away the morning of Sunday, May 4, 2025, surrounded by his daughter and son-in-law. He was born, also on a Sunday, July 30, 1933, in Dumas, Arkansas, a son of Loy Arnold and Faye Leona Slaten.

William was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jeanne Marie Roy Slaten, and his siblings Harold Slaten, Geneva Hamilton, and Lonnie Slaten.

Bill, as those close to him knew him, is survived by his children Danny (Debra) Slaten and Lisa (Stanley) Bee, siblings Martha Pendergrass and B. Lewis Slaten, grandchildren Stephanie Slaten, Jeff Slaten, and Emiley (Joshua) Thomsen, and great granddaughter Matilda Thomsen.

Bill grew up on a farm in Dumas, where they worked hard picking cotton. At age 18, Bill joined the U.S. Air Force. While deployed in France, Bill met his future wife Jeanne and they married in 1955 in the northeastern French town of Chaumont. Bill would ultimately return to his home state of Arkansas, bringing his French bride with him, and he and Jeanne would remain married for over 50 years until she passed in 2011.

After serving his country for 20 years, Bill retired from the Air Force and worked for the U.S. Postal Service, again retiring after another 20 years.

Lisa remembers that her father could fix anything and happily loved to tinker on things. Danny recalls the two of them always working on his cars or tinkering in the garage together. Stanley notes that he never once saw Bill get angry or raise his voice. Emiley remembers that her Poppy (as Bill was known to her) was always there to help anyone and loved to go on trips, just the two of them.

Everyone who knew Bill was immediately charmed by his easy going nature and sense of humor. He quickly and easily made friends everywhere he went.

Bill will be remembered by his immediate family in a small, private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you take the time to make someone’s day better through an act of kindness, as Bill always did, and that, once in a while, you eat your dessert first, like Bill was known to do!