William Lytle Burrows

William Lytle (Bill) Burrows passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Roland, Oklahoma. He was born on December 11, 1938, in Havana, Arkansas. Lytle was of the Assembly of God faith and knew to put his final time on earth in the hands of his Lord and Savior.  

Lytle served his country with service in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. De Haven, following his graduation from Havana High School with the Class of 1956. While attending high school, he was a member of the H.H.S. football team, and he is remembered by many as the guy who drove the cub tractor up the schoolhouse steps at the north end of the building. While in the military, he served in the Bikini Islands, and was stationed out of Long Beach where he adopted the nickname, “Bill”. He ultimately met and married Velta, his wife of 65 years, on May 29, 1959. Their marriage was blessed as they became the proud parents of three children, Jeffrey Lynn (previously deceased), Gretchen (Mark), and LaWanna (Johnny). 

The couple lived in the Bell Gardens, California area after marriage until 1962, when they moved the family of three to Arkansas, and soon welcomed their second child. They returned to the Norwalk, California area in 1964, where in 1965, they welcomed their third child. Lytle’s career in the HVAC industry started in maintenance with the Bank of America Buildings in Los Angeles, where he was employed until 1976, when the family’s final move to Arkansas was made. Lytle was self-employed in the HVAC installation and repair business in the Fort Smith area until 1996, when he started his employment as a maintenance manager for the Fort Smith Public School District until his retirement in 2005. The couple resided in Fort Smith until 2023.  

Lytle was a devoted husband and dedicated his life to taking care of the needs of his children, grandchildren, and family, using his extensive “handyman” skills. He loved to camp, drink coffee, and he enjoyed visiting with friends and family. 

Lytle was predeceased in death by his father, William Lee “Bill” Burrows and wife Lola (Litaker); his mother, Lucy O. (Moore) Burrows; his in-laws, Luther and Eula Graves; brother, Landon Burrows and wife Mae (Rollans); brother-in-law, Floyd Graves and wives Tina (Moore) and Kathryn (Moore Clinton); sister-in-law, Delores (Dee) Hamilton and husband Earl Hamilton; brothers-in-law Paul Dean Adair, Jackie Underwood, and Thomas Bryce; grandson-in-law Sam MacNeil; niece Gwendolyn Graves; step-nephews Vern Adair and James Sears; great-nephew Zephaniah  Underwood; and his loving son Jeffrey Lynn Burrows. 

He is survived by his wife, Velta Elaine (Graves); daughters Gretchen (Mark) Turner of Roland; Oklahoma and LaWanna (Johnny) Dye of Cane Hill, Arkansas; daughter-in-love Lori Arnold Burrows; sisters Sue Taylor of Perkins,  Oklahoma, Sharon Underwood of Havana, Arkansas, and Janetta Adair of Danville, Arkansas; brother Rick Burrows (Marilyn) of Charleston, Arkansas; grandsons Matthew Justin (Carrie) Hamblin of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Mark Leon Turner II (Amber Gage) of Brushy, Oklahoma; and Joshua Caleb (Katie) Burrows of Van Buren; granddaughters, Sandra  Elise (Sandi) Hamblin MacNeil of Durant, Oklahoma, Hannah Reyna Turner of Roland, Oklahoma, and Rachel Nichole (Chase) Campbell of Fort Smith, Arkansas; great-grandsons, Nathaniel Ethan Hamblin, Waylon Jeffrey Campbell, Nolan Joshua Burrows; great-granddaughters Kaley-Anne MacNeil and Palmer Jane Hamblin; step-great grandson, Brycedon, and step-great-granddaughter, Lydiah Gage; 7 nieces, 5 nephews, 1 step-nephew; 1 step-niece; a host of greats and great-greats; many Moore cousins, Burrows cousins, and numerous friends. 

Visitation will be held at Lewis Funeral Chapel 4817 Kelley Highway, Fort Smith, Arkansas from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024.  A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at Smith Cemetery, 12375 Cedar Creek Road, in Havana, Arkansas at 12:00 p.m. on  Friday, October 25, 2024, with Mike and Tracy Apple officiating. The family would like to express much appreciation and thanks to Hearts of Hope Hospice in Poteau, OK., to the VA, as well as Homeinstead Caregivers, for taking such good care of Bill in his final days.

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