of Conway, AR

February 4, 1946 - August 8, 2019

Christopher P. Bills Colonel, Field Artillery of Conway, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Chris was born in Waverly, New York on February 4, 1946, the second of 5 children born to John E. and Mary Lam Bills. Shortly, the family moved to Moravia and later to the suburbs of Rochester, New York. Chris graduated from East Ridge High School and started college at Albion College in Michigan.

His military career began when he and Albion College decided, after his second term, that it might be time to try something else. He joined the Army in 1966. After 35+ years of service, he retired with the rank of Colonel. He was a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School and is a member of the Field Artillery OCS Hall of Fame. He also graduated with honors from the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College. While in the Oklahoma National Guard he commanded the 1/160th Field Artillery Battalion. He also served as the State Liaison Team Chief providing coordination between the State of Oklahoma and the Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

In civilian life, he owned and managed a large cultured marble manufacturing company, Marblecraft. He is the past president of the 45th Infantry Division Association and the Benttree Homeowners Association. His volunteer activities included serving as Disaster Response Coordinator for the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church; 2d Vice President of the Oklahoma VOAD; member of the Trustees at Chapel Hill UMC in Oklahoma City and the church council at Conway First UMC. He was also an Arkansas Master Naturalist and a Faulkner County Master Gardener, helping to maintain the natural beauty of the Natural State.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Lam Bills and his nephew, Cory Benjamin. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda K. "Lynn" Meharg Bills, son, Robert (Amy), daughter, Molly, sisters, Pamella Morrill, Jacqueline DiSallo (Peter), Margaret Barber (Martin) and Elizabeth Burton as well as nieces, nephews and their children.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm Saturday, August, 31st at First United Methodist Church in Conway.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Conway Noon Lions Club Foundation or a charity of your choice.

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