Mr. Walter B. Byars, age 83, of Hazel, Kentucky, died on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Spring Creek Health Care in Murray, Kentucky.
Mr. Byars was born in Calloway County, Kentucky, on July 2, 1936, to the late Arlos Byars and Audie (Morris) Byars. Mr. Byars retired as the Director of Transportation with the Calloway County School System. He also served four terms as a member of the Calloway County Board of Education, and during his tenure the Calloway County High School Football Program was established. Prior to graduating from Hazel High School, as a freshman he was a member of the 1951 Puryear Tennessee High School Basketball Team who participated in the Tennessee State Basketball Tournament. He was a member of the Hazel Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Byars was preceded in death by two sisters, Jeanette Badge and Elizabeth Rowland; and by one brother, Bobby Byars.
Mr. Byars is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Curd) Byars, to whom he married on January 27, 1957, at the Green Plain Church of Christ; one daughter, Susan Arington and husband Kenny of Newnan, Georgia; one son, Greg Byars and wife Robin of Columbia, Missouri; as well as six grandchildren, Laurin Byars of Dallas, Texas, Austin Byars, of Dallas, Texas, Kate Byars of Lexington, Kentucky, Chelsea Darnell of New York City, New York, Caroline Darnell of Atlanta, Georgia, and Robert Preston of Lexington, Kentucky.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services. John Dale and Bro. Ricky Cunningham will officiate, and burial will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to The Foundation at Murray-Calloway County Hospital, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com