WILLIAM H. SPRUANCE William H. Spruance died February 12th, 2016 following a short illness. He was born in Pasadena, California, to Lewis Jefferson Clawson Spruance, Jr. and Eleanor Jones Spruance. He graduated from San Marino High School in 1958 and the University of Redlands in 1962. He served three years on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as an Ensign, then as Lt. JG and was a Vietnam Veteran. In 1968, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from UC Santa Clara Law School where he served as editor of the Law Review. He and his family moved to Paradise, California in 1969. In 1970 he began his successful 35 year career with the firm of Minasian, Spruance, Meith, Soares & Sexton in Oroville. He represented private and public clients, serving as general and special counsel to numerous public agencies, particularly water agencies. His areas of practice included water and environmental law, administrative and governmental law, business and real property, and wills, trusts and probate. He served as Butte County Water Commission Chairman from 1990-1992 and on the Legislative Committee of the California Association of Water Agencies. He was known as a person of honesty and integrity in his work, who always had a kind word for everyone. Bill was married to his wife Flo for 52 years. He taught his children the importance of hard work and respecting others. They have many happy memories of vacations together. Bill loved sailing on Lake Oroville, driving his little green Volvo and daily walks with his dog Molly. He had many fun trips with his brother and his cousin and enjoyed attending Law School and Navy reunions. He is survived by his wife Florence, his daughters Sherril Ann (Michael) Stephens and JoLynn (Roger) Peters, his grandchildren Joshua, Megan and Katherine and his brother, Lew (Kim) Spruance. He also leaves behind his cat, Bella, and dog, Molly. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Alice, his parents and his stepmother Walli Wallis. Funeral services will be Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 1045 Bushman Road in Paradise. Interment will follow at the Paradise Cemetery. Because of Bill's love for animals, those wishing to make a remembrance, please consider donating to your local animal shelter or animal charity.



Published in Chico Enterprise-Record on Feb. 20, 2016