William Henry "Bill" Bivens died on June 5, 2005 in the presence of his family and caregivers at Arkansas Hospice North Little Rock. He was born at home on February 24, 1919, in the Pearson community of Cleburne County, Arkansas. He was a graduate of Quitman High School. He was the eldest son of H. P. and Esther Bivens of Pearson. He retired after over thirty years of employment with Alcoa International in Benton. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Benton where he belonged to the Pastor's Class Sunday School class. "Gan-Gan" as he was known by his grandchildren, was a much beloved Christian gentleman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, working in his garden, church activities, and spending time with his family. Bill will be greatly missed by his many friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife of 61 years, Jean Bittle Bivens. He is survived by two daughters, Jananne Bivens Reding and her husband, David, of Little Rock and Rebecca Bivens Parke and her husband, Stephen, of Ft. Smith; two sisters, Donice Bivens Bowen of Conway and Charlsie Bivens Gadberry and her husband, Joe, of Bixby, Oklahoma; two brothers, Howard Paul Bivens and his wife, Marlene, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Ralph Lane Bivens and his wife, Ginger, of Quitman; four grandchildren, Bradley, Michael, and Jonathan Reding, all of Little Rock and Laura Elizabeth Parke of Coppell, Texas.

A celebration of his life will held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in the Olmstead Chapel. Interment will be at Pearson Cemetery under the direction of Olmstead Funeral Home of Heber Springs. The family will be receiving visitors at Olmstead Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2005. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 211 S. Market St., Benton, AR 72015. Arrangements by: Olmstead Funeral Home, Inc.