of Little Rock, AR
December 25, 1949 - January 23, 2026
Bill, 76, of Little Rock passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2026. He was born in Allentown, PA to Larraine and William Hirst, Sr. He is survived (and dearly missed) by his wife of 29 years, Pat Harrelson; two sons, C. Hirst of Ocean View, Delaware and Trevor Hirst of Vienna, Virginia; three brothers, Peter Hirst of Little Rock, Rischard Hirst of Allentown, PA and David Hirst of Baltimore; three grandchildren and his beloved dog, Darby.
Bill was an honor graduate of Lehigh University, with a B.A. in Spanish and Russian. He obtained his M.A. from the University of Southern California. Upon retirement he attended culinary school at Pensacola for 2 years to enhance his already fabulous culinary skills.
He served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, retiring as a Captain. His Navy career was peppered with awards and commendations. He served in Bahrain (where he met his wife, a fellow Naval Officer), Japan, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Hawaii, Norfolk, and at the Pentagon.
In retirement, Bill volunteered at the Sherwood Animal Shelter and CALS Library. He and his wife enjoyed many years of camping and travel in their various RV's. He was the editor of the Village Voice, a newsletter for Parkway Village residents for several years. He was known for his sense of humor and willingness to help others.
After cremation, his ashes will be buried at Pearson Cemetery in a private graveside service. We hope to have a memorial service later, to be held at Parkway Village.