Published: September 17, 2009 11:38 pm         

Walter Wayne Spires

MARSHALL — Walter Wayne Spires, 92, of Marshall, Ill. passed away at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 in the Burnsides Community Health Center at Marshall. He was retired from the Marshall facility of the Velsicol Chemical Corp. after 33 years of service. He was born Nov. 14, 1916 in the Clarksville area of Clark County, Ill. the son of Charles Bruce Spires and Hattie Spangenburg Spires. He married Mary C. Scheytt on Jan. 18, 1943 and she preceded him in death on Oct. 3, 2008.

He is survived by children, JoAnne Spires of Marshall, Ill., Larry Spires and his wife Lauren Tilford of Unionville, Conn. and Debbie Miller and her husband, Dennis of Marshall, Ill.; grandchildren, Joseph Spires and his fiancé Kali of Hainseville, Ill. Danielle Miller and her fiancé Scott Cline of Marshall, Ill. and Dana Miller of Marshall, Ill.; a brother, Herbert Spires and his wife Joleen of Marshall, Ill.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Elledge and Sarah Brashear and three brothers, Raymond, Chester and Paul Spires.

He was a member and attended the Emmanuel United Methodist Church of Marshall for the majority of his adult life. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Company C., medical battalion, 3rd armored division as an ambulance driver. He enjoyed maintaining friendships with many comrades and attended army reunions for many years. He was a member of Clark Co. Post 90 of the American Legion and VFW Post 5975.

He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed traveling the USA, farming and good clean living.

Services in honor of his life will be at 2 p.m. CDT Sunday at Pearce Funeral Home of Marshall with the Rev. Justin Deal officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. CDT Saturday and 7 a.m. until service time Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Clarksville Cemetery with graveside military rites conducted by VFW Post 5975, Clark Co. Post 90 of the American Legion and the Amvets. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel United Methodist Church or to the Clarksville Cemetery Association.