Donnie Joe Fondren

Donnie Joe Fondren, 75, of Blytheville passed from this life on July 28, 2024, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro surrounded by family and friends.

He was known by family and friends as “Joe”, “Big Joe”, “Captain Joe” and “Papa”.

He was born on June 17, 1949, in Blytheville to the late Jessie and Corrine Fondren. Joe served in the United States Army from April 14, 1969, until being honorably discharged on March 5, 1971. On June 1, 1974, he joined the Blytheville Fire Department where he served until March 1, 1999, reaching the rank of captain. During his days off he worked at the family hardware store, Fondren’s Hardware, and became full time upon retiring from the BFD. Later in life, he and his brother, Ronnie, took over the family business until 2017. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Arkansas Razorbacks fan, an outdoorsman, and a faithful member of Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie “Sonny” and Corrine Fondren.

He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Sandra Fondren; two children, Wendy (Richard) Erhard, of Memphis,Tenn., and Scott Fondren, of Blytheville; one brother, Ronnie (Cathy) Fondren, of Blytheville; three grandchildren, Joseph Fondren and Jayce Fondren, of Blytheville; Jacob Fondren, of Jacksonville; a granddaughter in love, Leah Givens, of Huffman; a host of grand-pets and great-grand pets; one brother-in-law, Dee Northern, of Holland, and one sister-in-law, Betty Bowlin, of Blytheville.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Carney Funeral Home in Blytheville. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Bro. Lawrence Gibbons and Bro. Willie Stamps officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery with military honors and Blytheville Fire Department honors. Carney Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of the services.

Condolences may be offered at carneyfuneralhome.com.

The family asks in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.