William Gerald Stearns
March 9, 1949-September 11, 2009
Fayetteville, Arkansas
William Stearns, 60 of Fayetteville, died Friday September 11, 2009 at his home.
He was born March 9, 1949 in Grafton, North Dakota to David Stearns and Geraldine Gislason
Stearns.
William received his BA from Biola University in 1969, a Masters of English from the University
of Arkansas, and had worked on a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the U of A. His widely varied
career history included youth minister, oil rig roughneck, author of twenty-two books, speaker,
and missions mobilizer, in addition to teaching English at the University of Arkansas. William
was a highly sought-after speaker, addressing audiences in Malta, Indonesia, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Germany, France and England, among others.
Survivors include his wife Amy Stearns of the home; one son Elijah Stearns of Fayetteville; five
daughters Caroline Stearns of Fayetteville, Megan Butler, and her husband Bill of Charlotte,
North Carolina, Erin Kelly of Concord, North Carolina ,Carrie Cline and her husband James of
Greenville, North Carolina, Ami Reeves of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his mother Geraldine
Stearns of Fayetteville; 1 brother Thomas Stearns of Young Harris, Georgia; 4 sisters Diane
Kesey of Ontario, Oregon, Janet Brotherton of Federal Way, Washington, Beatrice
McCormack, of Fayetteville, Elizabeth Duerr of Fayetteville, and six grandchildren.. He was
preceded in death by his father and a brother David Stearns.
Visitation will be 6-8:00PM Monday September 14, 2009 in the sanctuary of the Training
Center of Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers.
A memorial service will be 2:00PM Tuesday September 15, 2009 in the sanctuary of the
Training Center of Fellowship Bible Church of Rogers, with Pastor Mark McLaughlin
officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Fayetteville.
Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, in honor of William Stearns to The Grove Church,
385 East Sunbridge, Fayetteville, AR 72703.
He was born March 9, 1949 in Grafton, North Dakota to David Stearns and Geraldine Gislason
Stearns.
William received his BA from Biola University in 1969, a Masters of English from the University
of Arkansas, and had worked on a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the U of A. His widely varied
career history included youth minister, oil rig roughneck, author of twenty-two books, speaker,
and missions mobilizer, in addition to teaching English at the University of Arkansas. William
was a highly sought-after speaker, addressing audiences in Malta, Indonesia, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Germany, France and England, among others.
Survivors include his wife Amy Stearns of the home; one son Elijah Stearns of Fayetteville; five
daughters Caroline Stearns of Fayetteville, Megan Butler, and her husband Bill of Charlotte,
North Carolina, Erin Kelly of Concord, North Carolina ,Carrie Cline and her husband James of
Greenville, North Carolina, Ami Reeves of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his mother Geraldine
Stearns of Fayetteville; 1 brother Thomas Stearns of Young Harris, Georgia; 4 sisters Diane
Kesey of Ontario, Oregon, Janet Brotherton of Federal Way, Washington, Beatrice
McCormack, of Fayetteville, Elizabeth Duerr of Fayetteville, and six grandchildren.. He was
preceded in death by his father and a brother David Stearns.
Visitation will be 6-8:00PM Monday September 14, 2009 in the sanctuary of the Training
Center of Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers.
A memorial service will be 2:00PM Tuesday September 15, 2009 in the sanctuary of the
Training Center of Fellowship Bible Church of Rogers, with Pastor Mark McLaughlin
officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Fayetteville.
Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, in honor of William Stearns to The Grove Church,
385 East Sunbridge, Fayetteville, AR 72703.