William F. Spence

William F. Spence, 93, of Greencastle, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

He was born on Jan. 1, 1921 in Peoples, Ky., to William F. Spence and Mattie Swanner Spence.

He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Bill was a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and economics. He taught agriculture at McKee High School in McKee, Ky., and then joined the Farmers Home Administration, now the USDA, for almost 30 years.

During his tenure with the FHA, Bill served in a number of different positions and was state director of Indiana when he retired.

He was an active member of Greencastle First Baptist Church since 1957 and served on numerous boards and committees. He also served as treasurer of the Putnam County Chaplaincy Association. In 1983, Governor Robert D. Orr awarded Bill the Sagamore of the Wabash.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Debra Spence, brother Luther Spence and sister Ruth Herald.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Barbara Hensley Spence, whom he married on March 19, 1956; and a daughter, Lisa Spence of Elmhurst, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16 at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, with Pastor Randy McNeely officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the funeral home.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.Hopkins-Rector.com.

Memorials in Bill's memory may be shared with First Baptist Church, 404 Judson Drive, Greencastle, Indiana 46135.