To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 11/8/21 • Approved: 11/17/21 • Last Updated: 11/20/21 • R1400208-G0-S3
LIEUTENANT US Navy
World War II
November 27, 1918 - June 19, 2001
*Obituary
Benton County Daily Record
Thursday, June 21, 2001
William Ivan Blosser, 82, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, after an extended illness. He was born Nov. 27, 1918, in Wiley, Colo., to William Harvey Blosser and Lela Tweedie Blosser.
He graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in chemical engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant junior grade on the USS Belet in the South Pacific during World War II. He enjoyed annual reunions with his fellow servicemen throughout the country.
He married Erma W. Johnson in 1942 in Grant's Pass, Ore., where the couple lived and worked. He worked for the United States Gypsum Company for 38 years, where he served as an engineer and later as works manager in various plants in California, Texas, Michigan and Oklahoma. In 1968, the family moved to Wheeling, Ill., where he spent his last 15 years at U.S.G. working in product development. He was a member of various United Methodist Churches, serving as committee member, committee chair, and Sunday school teacher. He also served as a school board member and school board president in Watonga, Okla.
He retired in 1983 and moved to Bella Vista. He and his wife were members of the Bella Vista United Methodist Church and were active in their Shepherd Group and on various committees. He sang in the choir for several years. The couple enjoyed golfing and traveling to China, Alaska, Australia, Europe and throughout the United States. In Bella Vista, he was a member of the Nine-Hole Men's Golf Association and was president of Friends of the Library.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Kathryn; and a daughter, Kay Blosser Garcia.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Erma Blosser; three sons, Bob Blosser of Duncan, Okla., Bill Blosser of Oklahoma City and Dave Blosser of New Orleans, La.; two daughters, Linda Petty and Carol Egan, both of Palatine, Ill.; two sisters, Grace Blosser Newell of Oklahoma City and Elizabeth Blosser Lamson of Bella Vista; 10 grandchildren; a great-niece; and a great-nephew.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville, Ark.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 22, at the First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista with the Rev. Wayne Bartruff and the Rev. Larry Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Contributed on 11/8/21 by wfields55
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1400208