Dr. William “Bill” Griggs III, 81, of Fort Smith passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. He was born July 11, 1937, in Pennington Gap, Va., to the late William L. Griggs, Jr. and Dorothy Mae Fugate Griggs. He was the first neurologist in northwest Arkansas. He was the president/owner of Southwest Neurological Institute. He was the head of neurology at Holt Krock Clinic from 1972 -1999, on the board of directors at Holt-Krock Clinic 1975-1980, director of the neurophysiology laboratory at Sparks Regional Medical Center 1972-1998, staff neurologist at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center 1972-2005 and staff neurologist at Crawford County Memorial Hospital. He was a former board member of the United Way-Salvation Army, member of Big Brother and Big Sister of Western Arkansas, member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, on the advisory board of Western Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association, a member of Downtown Fort Smith Rotary Club, a lifelong Rotarian, founder and board member of Good Samaritan, life membership of the Arkansas Medical Society and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

His first wife, Marion “Murnie” Griggs preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Griggs; daughter, Sarah Griggs Chase and husband Joe of Baytown, Texas; sons, Charles Griggs and wife Paula of Missouri City, Texas, and Bill Griggs and wife Michelle of Fort Smith; sister, Barbara Griggs Friend of Pikeville, Ky.; eight grandchildren, James Chase and wife Leslie of Baytown, Elizabeth Dreyer and husband Ahren of Mt. Belvieu, Texas, Anna Griggs of Richardson, Texas, Emma Griggs of Fayetteville, Elise Griggs of Missouri City, Creighton Griggs of Missouri City, David Blake and wife Megan of Fort Smith and John Blake of Fort Smith; and two great-grandchildren, Maximus Blake and Brayden Blake of Fort Smith.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4100 Grand Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72904; or Good Samaritan Clinic, 615 N. B St., Fort Smith, AR 72901.