William "Bill" W. Spence 80, of Bolivar, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at Citizens Memorial Hospital. He was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, on December 7, 1938, a son of the late William and Maggie Spence.

Bill was a United States Navy veteran who proudly served his country from March 1958 to July 1978. He served as part of the "brown water" Navy during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967. Upon retirement from the Navy, Bill worked a full-time career as an owner-operator driving his 18-wheel truck across the country. Bill loved reading western novels, watching NASCAR and old western movies and driving around the country site seeing. Bill never met a stranger and was known for helping anyone he came in contact with.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ginger Spence of Bolivar, Missouri; daughter, Rita (Jimmie) Powell of Frederick, Maryland; five grandchildren, Kimberlee (Wes) Hatfield of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colton Powell of Rogersville, Missouri, Nailah Powell, Zoie Powell, and Jacen Powell of Frederick, Maryland; sisters, Caroling Moore and Madeline Gunter both of Anderson, South Carolina; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends.

Bill will fondly be remembered by family and friends as a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, proud patriot and U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer.