(From Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home)
Rev. Harry W. Oxford, 92, of Rogers, Arkansas transitioned peacefully in to the loving arms of Jesus on March 26, 2025 at the Circle of Life Hospice Home at Legacy Village in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Harry W. Oxford was born October 13, 1932 on a farm in Goshen, Arkansas to the late, H.E. Oxford and Lottie Mulleniex. As a teenager, his family moved to Little Rock, where he met his first wife Evelyn Yarberry at Cedar Lane Church of the Nazarene. After high school he attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, OK. While home for Christmas, he and Evelyn married and she returned with him to Bethany. In 1953, they welcomed their daughter Sandi and in 1955 their son Bill.
As a young pastor, he led churches in Hugo and Albany, OK. During this time, he began teaching himself carpentry after a church member asked him to build cabinets. When he left fulltime ministry, he built homes for many years in Little Rock. He and his family returned to Cedar Lane Church of the Nazarene where he served in many roles, including working with the youth while Sandi and Bill were teenagers. At age 40, he gained the title Pepa to his grandchildren and then his great grandchildren.
In 1977, he and Evelyn moved to Northwest Arkansas and started Oxford Insurance Agency He continued building homes. He joined the Springdale Church of the Nazarene and served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. While there, he designed and oversaw the construction of a new church building. He was still framing houses in his 60s and hanging cabinets in his 70’s. He didn’t truly retired until well in to his 80’s.
He spent his free time doing woodwork, building, playing cards and boardgames, and he was an avid reader. He was a jokester and enjoyed a good prank and good laughter. He loved to be on his tractor and would find reasons to go out and ride on it. He taught all the grandkids to drive a tractor before they could reach the controls properly.
What was most beloved to him were his family, God and people. He spent time daily in prayer and scripture. It has been said by several; they loved to hear him read scripture and pray aloud. Over the past weeks, those who knew him have remarked how he loved life, Jesus and people so well. He had a calm, loving presence that drew people to him.
He is survived by his daughter, Sandi Oxford Abel and husband, Tommy of Rogers, Arkansas; son, Bill Oxford and wife, Laurie of Carthage, Missouri; 6 grandchildren, Michelle Barrett (Daniel), Shane Orr (Desarae), Jared Oxford (Karrie), Nicholas Oxford, Jennifer Oxford, and Shaina Abel-Wilbur; 15 great-grandchildren, Bethny Barrett (Wesley), Jonathan Barrett (Megan), Sean Barrett (Hannah), Jayla Orr, Rae Lipsmeyer, Kiya Daniel, Christian Daniel, Abra Oxford, Thayne Oxford, Elijah Oxford, Gabriel Oxford, Tyler Oxford, Andrew Oxford, Benjamin Oxford and Uriyah Johnson ; and great, great grandson, Sullivan Barrett Cook and a great, great granddaughter arriving in September.
He is preceded in death by his parents, H.E. Oxford and Lottie Mulleniex; his first wife, Evelyn Yarberry to whom he was married from December 30, 1951 until her passing in April 2007; his second wife, Sally Shull whom he was married to from September 21, 2008 until her passing in September 2014; and his third wife, Donna Rockwell whom he was married to from June 5, 2017 until her passing in February 2024.
The funeral service for Rev. Oxford will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Springdale, Arkansas. Pastor Larry Woodward and Pastor Ken Armstrong will officiate the service.
Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
