Retired US Airforce Master Sergeant William Arthur "Bill" Sexton passed away peacefully in Little Rock on his 87th birthday, August 4th, 2024.

Bill was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the only child of Paul A. and Evelyn R. (Bernard) Sexton. A third generation American, he was raised within the French/Irish Catholic community and schools in historic Lowell. He graduated from Keith Academy with honors in 1954 and enlisted in the U.S. Airforce.

Bill was stationed in Alpena, Michigan when he married Carol Corbeill in 1960. Over the next 21 years, Bill served the US Air Force as a flight engineer and instructor domestically and overseas. He was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal in 1973 for his service under Tactical Air Command (TAC), headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, during the Vietnam War era. He earned five Air Force Aerial Achievement Medals for Special Operations, four Air Force Good Conduct Medals, and four Air Force Longevity Service Awards. He was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base when he retired in 1976 as a Master Sergeant with the Tactical Airlift Training Squadron (Military Airlift Command).

After retiring from the military, Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology degree, with Distinction, from Park College. Bill also attended Foothills Technical Institute in Searcy and earned a certificate in Autobody Collision/Repair. Combining two interests, Bill worked at Sylvan Hills High School as the Auto Body Shop instructor for the next 15 years, before retiring again.

While raising his family, Bill spent many summers boating on Greers Ferry Lake while pulling his two "big" kids up on skis and his two "little kids" behind on a float. He was an excellent water skier, and later obtained certification in scuba diving. Each Christmas, he lit up his family's house and garage with large colorful lights, along with mounting a big plastic 1970's era Santa, sleigh, and reindeer above the garage's basketball hoop. He survived his children's teenage years, which included wrecking cars, lots of shenanigans, and accidentally catching the yard on fire.

After years vacationing with four little kids in a blue Vista Cruiser station wagon, Bill upgraded to a motorhome and the family traveled throughout the U.S. every year. Bill favored the mountains of Colorado and enjoyed "Jeeping" on remote trails in summer and skiing the powdery slopes in winter.  He was a skilled woodcrafter and a talented autobody painter, known for the quality of his custom paint jobs.

Bill was a lifelong car enthusiast--- especially antique cars. He cherished his fully restored 1960 single cab Volkswagen truck, which placed first in every car show entered. Bill was an avid reader of history and political intrigue, a crossword puzzle solver, and master of grilling on the Big Green Egg. He loved M&Ms, animals (especially his late Yorkie, 'Bozo'), watching the stock market, and working outdoors. Sunday afternoons were reserved for NASCAR.

Bill was proud of and loved his ever-growing family.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his youngest son, Dr. Richard Allen Sexton. He leaves behind three children: Paul A. Sexton of Belton TX and fiancé Michelle Knight, daughter Michelle A. Wilson and Tommy Wilson of Jacksonville, daughter Yvonne A. Rowland of Maumelle, and five grandchildren: Brandon Wilson and wife Jennifer of Gravel Ridge, Amanda Flemister and husband Matthew of Rogers, Paris Rowland of Maumelle, Julian Rowland and wife Julie of Maumelle, and Ethan Rowland and wife Kelsey of Little Rock. He was blessed with two great granddaughters, Wilson Flemister and Frances Flemister of Rogers.

Per Bill's wishes, no public funeral service is planned.