William “Bill” Edward Colston

William “Bill” Edward Colston, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Monday, June 6, 2022, in Huntsville, Texas, surrounded by family.

He was a resident of Blytheville and a member of Main and 13th Church of Christ. He was born in 1935 in Blytheville. He attended Blytheville High School and after graduating in 1955 married his high school sweetheart, Prentice Joy Coleman, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage before her death in 2019. Together they shared three children, Mrs. Tannda Jackson, Mrs. Prentice “Penny” Foley, and Mr. William “Bryant” Colston. Bill attended Park College at Kansas City where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics. He later attended the University of Arkansas, where he earned a Master’s degree in operations management.

Bill was affectionately referred to as “Billy” by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was known in his personal life as someone who worked hard to care for his family. Because of his strength, intelligence, and natural sense of leadership, he was a man who made those around him feel safe. He always took time through both small and large actions to make sure that his family knew they were specially thought of and loved.

Bill was a well-known and active member of every community he was a part of throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Blytheville Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Northeast Arkansas Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of Blytheville Unlimited, served as president of the Walnut Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and was mayor of Monette. After the passing of his wife, he set up the Prentice Joy Colston Memorial Scholarship in her name to aid nursing students at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bill was a customer serviceman for Ark-Mo natural gas customers at Osceola and Monette, and became manager at Senath in 1968. He later served as manager of both gas and electric operations at Steele and assistant to the district manager at Caruthersville. He became administrative assistant for electrical operations in the main Ark-Mo office at Blytheville in 1974 and in 1977 was named district manager at Walnut Ridge. He became district manager at Blytheville in 1985. Bill became Regional Director of Entergy Louisiana in 1992. In 1993 he became the vice president of Customer Service Entergy Louisiana and the Southern Region of Entergy Services. The following year he became vice president of customer service Entergy Gulf States. He retired in 1998 after 36 years of utility service.

William E. Colston was preceded in death by his wife, Prentice Joy Colston; parents William C. Colston and Edna E. White Colston; great-grandson, Axel J. Dulock; and sister Kay Linch.

He leaves his three loving children, Mrs. Tannda Colston Jackson (Stephen), Mrs. Prentice “Penny” Colston Foley (Stan) and Mr. William “Bryant” Colston (Kendra); seven grandchildren, Jessica Lefort (Clifton), Megan Dulock (Brad), Lauren Foley, Kaeleigh Colston, William “Tyrus” Colston, Zoe Colston and Clayton Colston; six great-grandchildren, Jackson Moon (Abigale), Julia Lefort, William Lefort, Stephen Lefort, Ashton Dulock, and Willa Dulock.; sister, Charlotte Ball and brother, Anthony Colston. Bill also leaves countless other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel. There will be no visitation. The service will be officiated by Bill’s son-in-law, Mr. Stan Foley. Pallbearers include Tyrus Colston, Clayton Colston, Jackson Moon, William Lefort, Stephen Lefort, Clifton Lefort, Brad Dulock, and Neil Robinson. There will be a private burial immediately following, where Bill will be laid to rest next to his wife. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to French Camp Academy, located at 1 Fine Pl, in French Camp, Miss. 39745. French Camp Academy can be contacted at (662) 547-6482. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.