William Clarence Whitfield III passed away on Wednesday, August 12th, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 9, 1938, in Fayetteville to Louise Green Whitfield and William Clarence Whitfield Jr.
Known to most as “Bill,” he was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Ruthie; his daughters, Cindy Whitfield Martin of Springdale and Cheri (Mark) Whitfield Holzer of Lowell; his grandchildren, Ryan (Diana) Whitfield Martin of Springdale, Drew Martin of Fayetteville, Travis (Elizabeth) Maier of Cincinnati, Josh Maier of Rogers, Tierison (Taso) Karathanasis of New York City, and Bianca (Shahar) Zeplovitch of New York City; and his great-grandchildren, Oliver Clarence Martin, Bastian Felipe Martin, Romina Rose Martin, Aria Jaqueline Maier, Chloe Grace Karathanasis, and Nikolas Scott Karathanasis. He is also survived by his sister, Anne Whitfield (Gerald) Jones, and his brother, Robert Green (Kim) Whitfield.
Bill grew up in Fayetteville, where he met the love of his life, Ruthie Jolly, at the young age of 14. The two graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1957. Bill continued his education at the University of Arkansas, where he proudly played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks under the famous Coach Frank Broyles and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1961.
Bill began his career working for his grandfather at Green Chevrolet. He later bought the business and founded WHIT Chevrolet, which he owned until selling it in 1980. Never one to sit still for long, Bill then embarked on a second career as a contractor, building homes throughout Fayetteville and around Beaver Lake. He also served as president of the Northwest Arkansas Home Builders Association, earning the respect of his peers while helping shape the community he had always called home.
Bill never met a stranger. He opened his arms and his home to everyone and was always the life of the party, often many nights a week. He entertained countless lifelong friends over the years, among them Dash Goff, Don Tyson, Hayden McIlroy, Doc Holliday, Paul Young, Mahlon Gibson, Benny Shreve, and his fishing buddy, Mike Bell. There was never a dull moment when Bill was around.
Bill lived for adventure. He learned to fly and eventually owned and piloted his own propeller planes, flying his family to Colorado to ski, taking friends on fishing trips, and following wherever the next adventure led him. He was born to fish and caught many a fish from Beaver Lake and waters far beyond. He even taught the famous fisherman Bill Dance how to fish the lake. He was also an avid gardener, known for growing “the best damn corn” around, and had a special place in his heart for dogs. He and Ruthie welcomed many beloved dogs into their home over the years, at one point having six at once, and treated each one as part of the family. Some of his grandchildren’s fondest memories were the summers spent with him at Beaver Lake, where he patiently taught every one of them how to catch and fillet crappie. Those days were made even sweeter by Blue Bell ice cream and plenty of the best damn peaches and watermelon from Vanzant’s Farm. Bill had a way of turning ordinary summer days into the kind of memories his family will carry with them forever.
Bill and Ruthie spent 68 wonderful years together, raising their family and traveling the world. Above all else, Bill adored Ruthie. He loved her the way every girl dreams of being loved, showing up for her always, taking care of her, and spoiling her every chance he got. His devotion to her was constant, and the life they built together was his greatest source of pride.
The family extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited, called, brought food, and offered prayers. A very special thank-you goes to Bill’s caregivers, who were true saints to both him and Ruthie as they navigated the final chapter of his life.
In loving memory of Bill, who shared his remarkable life with many cherished dogs over the years, please consider making a memorial contribution to the Best Friends Shelter in Bentonville or to Equestrian Bridges in Rogers.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. To leave a tribute, please visit bernafuneralhomes.com.