Walter Frank “W. F.” McFarland, Jr., 71, of Tifton passed away Monday, March 25, 2019, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Antioch Baptist Church in Omega with the Rev. Danny Smith and the Rev. Tom Studstill officiating. Mr. McFarland will be laid to rest at Omega Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 27, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mr. McFarland will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mr. McFarland’s nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Andy Oliver, Julian Bennett, Tony Bennett and Ronnie Golden.
Born September 6, 1947 in Tifton, Mr. McFarland was the son of the late Walter Frank McFarland, Sr. and Audrey Mae Lawson McFarland. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Richard McFarland and Warren McFarland; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, William Christopher (Tince) Pitts, Sr. and Mae Pitts; and two brothers-in-law, Alan Pitts and William Christopher Pitts, Jr. He graduated from Tift County High School and received his Associates Degree at ABAC. Before retiring, he was a technician at Proctor and Gamble in Albany for 27 years. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Omega, where he served as a deacon.
Mr. McFarland is survived by his wife, Linda Pitts McFarland of Tifton; one son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Melinda McFarland of Enigma; two daughters and sons-in-law, Julie and Keith Johnson of Winter Garden, Florida and Lori and Trey Studstill of Hiram; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Betty Ann Gunn of Omega, Marie Clark of Tifton and Jean and Jim Haas of Buena Vista; six grandchildren, Katie McFarland, Allie McFarland, Josh McFarland, Nathan Johnson, Jenna Studstill and Henry Studstill; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pat and Tommy Eubanks of Milton, Florida; and many nieces and nephews, who loved him very much.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Nikki Taylor, Jenifer Marshall, Mamie Stephens, Linda Senkbeil, Landon Alberson and Crystal Howell of Hospice of Tift Area and Wendy Morales and Barbara of ResCare.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial gifts to be made to Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794; or Salem Baptist Church Senior Ministry, c/o Peggy Griffin, 1035 Ty Ty-Sparks Road, Tifton, GA 31793.