Our beloved classmate, Leroy Bilby, passed away Saturday, June 1^st 2019

Leroy was our de facto Chaplain for the Class of ’68. He brought kind words & humor to all at every event. Leroy attended the 50^th Class Reunion last October but was unable to walk the distance to the Gazebo for the class photo. I was hoping to paste his picture into the photo until my computer broke down.

Leroy (Victor) was born on November 8, 1949 and passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Leroy was a resident of Arkansas at the time of passing. Leroy graduated from Carol Granderson's Bible College and was an ordained minister. Memorial services were at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cherokee City, Arkansas with Pastor Rob Matney and Rev. Ron Harris officiating.

Victor Leroy Bilby was also known as, Johnny, Josephus Appleblossom, Teeter Totter, Smith Junior the Third. But his friends call him “Johnathan Shagnasty” for short. Leroy went home to be with the Lord at the age of 69 while surrounded by his family and friends at the Circle of Life Hospice Center in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born November 8, 1949 to Jimmy Charles and Kathryn Frances (Akers) Bilby in Plainview, Texas. The family moved to Siloam Springs when Leroy was 9 years old. He worked in his parents’ business, Bilby’s Grocery Store, in Siloam Springs, Phillips Food Center in Bentonville, and Halliburton Company in Oklahoma and Kansas. After suffering an injury, he returned to Siloam Springs in 1985 and worked with his parents at Bilby Home Improvements until they retired in 1995. At that time, he started his own business, Leroy Bilby’s Siding and Windows, which he operated until he retired in 2012.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Kathryn Bilby.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Johnetta Bilby of Gentry; two sons: Victor Bilby and wife Michelle of Siloam Springs; Ryan Young and Jennifer of Tulsa; two daughters: Misty (Bilby) Martin and husband Jason of Colcord; Chrisi Towery and husband Mark of Springdale; 10 grandchildren: Dalton Asbury, Cheyenne Turnbull, Dakota Janes, McKenna Andrews, MaHayla Martin, Dason Martin; Alana, Skyler, Chloe and Sterling Towery; three great grandchildren: Blaize and Hazel Turnbull, Paul Asbury and a baby boy on the way; and his dog, Dixie.