The journey of life began for William on April 7, 1950 in Pryor Oklahoma. His parents Leonard and Dorothy along with his big sister Halline were filled with joy at his arrival.

Dr. Yarborough graduated from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in OKC in 1977, with honors. He completed his Internal Medicine residency, he served as the Director of Emergency Services at Hillcrest Medical Center. Dr. Yarborough joined the faculty of the OU Medical School in Tulsa in 1991 and retired from OU with 25 years of service as a Professor of Medicine. While at OU, in Tulsa, he worked in different capacities, including Executive Vice Chair of Medicine, for several years, and for 22 years was the Director of the 4th year ambulatory medicine course. He functioned as Medical Director of the Internal Medicine clinics for 19 years. He won multiple teaching awards during his tenure, twice receiving the Outstanding Faculty Aesculapian Award. In 1995 he became Medical Director of 12 & 12 Drug and Alcohol treatment center and served in that capacity for 20 years. He had a major interest in pain management as well as addiction medicine from 1995 till the present. He has taught both of these subjects widely, focusing on curricula for primary care physicians. Dr. Yarborough has done research and is published in the area of medically assisted treatments for addiction, as well as addiction issues in professionals. After retirement he was a Professor Emeritus at the OU School of Community Medicine. After determining his incapability of just sitting around after retiring from OU, he had been working as Addiction Medicine Director at Seva Medcare, formerly Oklahoma Pain and Wellness, in Tulsa. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine, and a Certified Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management. He was the Regional Director of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, serving 8 states. He was also on the Board of Directors of ASAM nationally and currently President of the Oklahoma Chapter.

Besides the great compassion for his patients William loved spending time with his family and enjoyed taking the grandchildren with him on family vacations to Disney World.

Dr. Yarborough is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Ashley. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Renae; sons Josh (Kristin) and Austin; grandchildren William, Nevaeh and Mattie; son-in-law Ayman; sister Halline (Jerry) all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a host of other relatives and friends.

Viewing will be 12Noon-8PM, Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Funeral Service will be 2:00 P.M., Thursday, June 2, 2022 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233