William Robert Spears, 77
William Robert Spears, 77, passed away Aug. 6, 2023, with his wife and children by his side, after a long battle with gastroparesis.
He was born on May 18, 1946, in Dinuba, Calif., where he attended La Sierra and Loma Linda Academy schools, graduating in 1965. He excelled at his talents of baseball and playing the drums. He was drafted into the Army in 1967. Bill was a devout Christian his whole life, hardworking, and dedicated to helping others in his community and his church.
He was well-known among friends and family for having a unique talent for story-telling and an infectious laugh that couldn't be duplicated. He was well-known for his love of baseball (as well as his talent at it), which actually kept him out of Vietnam as his baseball ability was needed on their team. He was sent instead to Germany, where he served as a truck driver and head of the supply department as well as EMT.
Shortly after his discharge from the military in 1973, he worked in the medical field, where both his parents were registered nurses. He later married Jacquelyn Dawn Larson, with whom he had three children: Jennifer Dawn, Dianna Cristine and Wesley Roger. They eventually moved from California to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1973.
After the marriage of seven years, he later met and married Ingrid Erickson Ivey on Sept. 16, 1978, and adopted her two children, Shelli Lynn and William Russell.
Bill worked in the construction industry throughout his life. He and his wife began Spears Construction in Cheney, Wash., for close to 30 years, where they built their dream home on 10 acres located next to the game refuge. They sold their home and retired in 2010 and moved back to Ingrid's hometown of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and onto her actual spot of birth, where they had built a home for her sister, Eleanor, in 2002, whom they took care of at their home in Cheney until she passed away from cancer. Her last wish was for them to live in her home after she was gone.
Bill was preceded in death by his son, Wesley Roger Spears; his sister, Carol Byrdene Wheeler; his brother, James Charles Spears; and his parents, Frances Byrdene and Guy Harry Spears Sr. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ingrid Erickson Spears; a son, William Russell Spears; daughters Shelli Lynn Huey, Jennifer Dawn Fister and Dianna Cristine Martinsen; as well as 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at the local Seventh-day Adventist Church, followed by graveside services at Grandview Cemetery with military honors.
