RITTENBERRY BARRON, WANDA - Washington County, Arkansas | WANDA RITTENBERRY BARRON - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Wanda RITTENBERRY BARRON

Friendship (Springdale) Cemetery
Washington County,
Arkansas

Wanda
July 25, 1946 - December 27, 1972

Billy
March 7, 1967 - December 27, 1972

Bobby
March 5, 1969 - December 27, 1972

*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Times
Thursday, December 28, 1972 (front page)

Three Killed In Springdale Home Blaze

SPRINGDALE — A Springdale woman and her two children died Wednesday in a fire that destroyed their mobile home at Dale's Green Acres Mobile Home Park just outside Springdale.

The three-bedroom mobile home was occupied by Billy Barron, an employee of Tyson's in Springdale; his wile, Wanda; two children, Billy Joe, 5, and Bobby Lee, 3; and Mrs. Barron's sister, Mrs. Kay Trembley.

According to Deputy Sheriff Joe Hussey, Mrs. Trembley said she and her sister had returned from work at the Stardust Lounge in Fayetteville and that Mr. Barron had Left for work about 6 a.m.

Mrs. Trembley, who occupied the front bedroom of the home, said she awoke about 8 a.m. and fed the children, who later returned to their bedroom in the middle of the trailer to take a nap. Mrs. Trembley returned to her bedroom, and both she and Mrs. Barron were in their bedrooms when the fire started.

SMELLED SMOKE
Mrs. Trembley said she awoke, smelled smoke, and opened her door to find that flames had engulfed the home. Unable to help her sister or the children in the center and south end of the structure, she ran outside to summon help.

After calling the Springdale Fire Department from the assistant manager's home, Mrs. Trembley and the occupant of a nearby trailer attempted to break open the exit door in the bark bedroom, but were unsuccessful. Other witnesses said Mrs. Barron broke out a window and called far help, then fell back inside the home.

When firemen arrived, flames had engulfed the home and the east side of the trailer had burned off. The department sent first one engine and then a second to help. A doctor and an ambulance were also at the scene.

Hussey said firemen found the three bodies face down in the back bedroom.

The mobile home park is at the corner of Walnut Grove avenue and Lakeview Drive near Lake Fayetteville.

Fire Chief Mickey Jackson said cause of the fire is unknown. According to the Sheriff's office, Barron told officers that there were no gas leaks in the home to his knowledge.

Mrs. Barron was horn July 25, 1946 in Kennett, Mo., the daughter of Philip and Helen Clark Rittenberry, and was a member of the Holiness Church.

Survivors are her husband; her father, of Rogers; her mother, Mrs. Helen Cooper of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; two brothers, Jerry Rittenberry of Granby, Mo., and R. L. Rittenberry of Poplar Bluff; two sisters, Mrs. Johnny Case of Bentonville and Mrs. Trembly; two half-brothers Mike Murphy of Granby and Richard L. Murphy of Fort Campbell, Ky. and one half-sister, Miss Sharon Murphy of Poplar Bluff.

Billy Joe was born March 7, 1967 in Springdale and Bobby Lee was born March 5, 1969 in Fayetteville.

In addition to their father and maternal grandparents, the boys are survived by their paternal grandfather, Wade Barron and their paternal grandmother, Mrs. Grace Hunt of Fayetteville. Joint funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Sisco Funeral Chapel.

Contributed on 12/7/13 by wfields55
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Record #: 964064

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Additional RITTENBERRY BARRON Surnames in FRIENDSHIP (SPRINGDALE) Cemetery

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Submitted: 12/7/13 • Approved: 12/8/13 • Last Updated: 12/11/13 • R964064-G964063-S3

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