of Maumelle, AR
July 3, 1928 - June 28, 2020
Dr. Billy Gene Cremeen, 91, of Maumelle went to be with the Lord, June 28, 2020. He was born July 3, 1928 in Brinkley, Arkansas.
Bill graduated from Brinkley High School in 1946, Arkansas State Teachers College, Conway in 1950, and Northwestern University School of Dentistry, Chicago in 1954. He served the US Army 31st Infantry in Korea from 1946-1948.
He practiced dentistry in Helena, Arkansas from 1954-2008. Bill became a pioneer in the new field of Dental Implantology, having obtained a pilot's license so he could fly to seminars across the country. He and his wife, Louise, hosted Implantology seminars in Helena attended by dentists from 14 states. He also gave lectures in Hamburg, Germany.
Bill served his community as a Helena City Councilman, and as President of the DeSoto School Board, the Helena Lions Club, the Shrine Club, and the Helena Country Club. He and Louise were active members of West Helena Baptist Church from 1957-1987 where he served as a deacon, stewardship chairman and building chairman. Bill and Louise moved to Little Rock in 1987 and joined Fellowship Bible Church a few years later, where he was a leader of his community group.
Bill and Louise's younger son Mark was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in the early 1960's, when the disorder was relatively unknown. Bill worked to support the newly founded Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, serving as a leader at the state, regional and national levels. Bill was recently honored as the first recipient of CFF's Ruby Bishop Award. Bill and Louise were also active in Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH).
Bill was a huge sports fan, from the time he played football at Brinkley High School. Later he served as president of the Razorback Booster Club in Helena. He and Louise enjoyed traveling to Razorback games and championships. Bill enjoyed playing golf at the Helena Country Club and at Maumelle Country Club. Bill was most proud of going with a delegation of Arkansas Dentists, who went to Pegucigatpa, Honduras, to build a free dental clinic for some of the world's poorest people.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Verna Cremeen, his loving wife, Louise Wilkinson Cremeen; son, Mark Andrew Cremeen; and brother, Dr. Thomas Lee Cremeen.
He is survived by two children, William Curtis Cremeen; Leanne Cremeen Johnson (Kyle); grandchildren, Kylee Johnson; Andrew, Emma, and Lucas Cremeen; nephew, Thomas Cremeen; and daughter in Christ, Glin Hill Jones.
The family would like to acknowledge the incredible, compassionate care given to Bill by Dr. Greg McKinney, May Johnson, Tory Randle and Julie Willyard.
A viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm, Thursday, July 9 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas. A graveside service will be held 10:00 am, Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Sunset Memorial Park in West Helena, Arkansas.
Please wear comfortable clothing due to the heat.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in Bill's honor to:
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N
Bethesda, MD 20814.
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8 Condolence(s)
Linda (McKinney) Hutton
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
I respected and Loved Dr. Bill Cremeen . He was, my aunt by marrige, cousin. I had visited him about 2 weeks before he passed. He was in good spirits. We went out on the back porch and sat at a table that had a umbrella, when I opened it because the sun was beaming down on him, we found a fruit bat.
nancy mahler
Friday, July 10, 2020
I met Louise years ago, and, through her, met Dr. Cremeen. He was such a wonderful person. Later, when my dentist retired, of course, I went to Dr. Cremeen.
He was such a friendly person, but what really impressed me was how much he loved his work. He was proud of his results, and, took care of his patients. (Satisfaction Guaranteed)
Along the way I learned about his family, and, his life story, and, was able to keep up with Louise, too.
Condolences to the family, and, his many friends, all over Arkansas. He will be missed by anyone who had the good fortune to know him.
Sarah Whitworth
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
To the Cremeen Family. Bill and my husband, Charlie Whitworth, were great friends in West Helena before any of us were married, and they were groomsmen in each other’s weddings, In later years we always visited with Bill and Louise when we were in West Helena. They were such wonderful friends of ours. In later years we did not see them much, but never lost our wonderful memories of water skiing on a small river and one crazy trip in a ski boat on the Mississippi River. I know you will miss this awesome man.
Bill DeCamp
Monday, July 6, 2020
Dr Cremeen was the first dentist I ever went to. Being very poor, we treated toothaches with aspirin or BC tablets or power placed on the cavity. I remember that I was so desperate for dental care that to this day I have never felt any discomfort in a dentist's chair. I just realized that the patience and gentle care I received from Dr Cremeen might have been a part of that. I seem to remember that his office sort of bordered the parking lot of Safeway where I worked for a couple years. Just sorry that I never visited with him or contacted him in some way after my becoming an adult. I would have thanked him for being as I described above. My sympathy to family and friends of Dr Cremeen. Your loss is surely Heaven's gain.
Bobbe Scarbrough Schieffler
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Went to Dr Cremeen for many years. I also think he worked in Marvell and his office was above my grandfathers (Lee Price Anderson) drug store (Anderson Drug Store)!!
Tona Mills
Sunday, July 5, 2020
To the Family: I am so sorry to hear about Dr. Cremeen. He was my dentist when I lived in W. Helena, and I continued using him even after I moved to Marion in 2005. He was such a friendly, energetic person. My husband and I often talked to him at Champs whenever we went there to exercise. May God bless you and give you comfort.
Chloye Bailey-Pogue
Sunday, July 5, 2020
To the children of Bill and Louise: I attended Ouachita with Louise in 1956-57 and have such fond memories of this sweet, sweet beautiful girl. The first thing I learned about Louise was that she was in love with Bill Cremeen and was only at Ouachita for one year to please her parents. She used that year wisely to study and make good grades but also to plan her wedding. Several of her other friends and I attended the beautiful wedding. We all knew that this was just meant to be because they were so happy. The last time I remember seeing Louise was as a happy mother-to-be looking like a cuddly little teddy bear in her beautiful maternity dress! I know this love story is one for the books and you children are blessed to have been born into this relationship! I know there was sadness at times but overall it appears that life was just wonderful. You will all be together in our Heavenly home some day and I look forward to being there to see all of our friends and families too. God bless you and your families during this time of grief.
LINDA Spyridon
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Leanne, I was saddened to discover on Facebook the death of your Father. My husband was karl Spyridon, a member of the Alabama implant study group. I saw you and your mother at summer outings with the group. Your father was such a joy to know. I always sought him out when the group was gathered in the hospitality room. He loved telling me about his family. There was a special smile, and a glisten in his eye.. I was happy to meet your Mother. What a beautiful couple! I was blessed to have crossed paths with your parents. God bless you and your family.