GEORGE KEENER SPRINGDALE —

George Keener, 73, of Springdale died Jan. 24, 2001, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. He was born April 30, 1927, in Farmington to George Wesley and Mary Ida Hankins Keener. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving in the 508th Parachute Infantry. He was a past president of the Farmington School Board and was a member of the Arkansas Old- Time Fiddler’s Association and was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. He was retired from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was a graduate of Fayetteville Business College.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Fletcher Keener, to whom he was married Aug. 16, 1979; one daughter, Jenee’ Keener of the home; one stepdaughter, Jo Ellon Pianalto and husband, Tim of Springdale; two stepsons, Larry Wayne Horner of Fayetteville and Garry Horner of Little Rock; one brother, John Keener of Lodi, Calif.; three grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sisco Chapel in Springdale with the Rev. Cliff Jenkins officiating.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth Shelley, Steve Shelley, Floyd Shelley, Robert Bob Shelley, Orville Taylor and Tim Pianalto.

Honorary pallbearers will be Frankie Kelly, Jesse Walden, David Griffith and Lonzo Hail. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the New Hope Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 6100, Springdale, 72766.