Willis “Bill” Turner Sperry, age 90, passed away on July 20, 2016, Hughson, Ca.

Bill is survived by his wife, Eileen Sperry, of Samaritan Village, Hughson, Ca., his sons Donn Sperry (Jeanne) of Stockton, Ca., Roger Sperry (Peggy) of Turlock, Ca., and daughter, Karen (Sperry) Fuller (David) of Southern California, brother M. Kirk Sperry Jr.  (Ruth) of Turlock, and sister Lou Ann (Sperry) Mitchell (Cliff) of Arizona, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Bill was born 6/16/26 in Algona, Iowa.  He graduated from Greene High School.  He graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor degree, and received a Master’s degree from Drake University in Iowa.

He was a World War II veteran and trained to be a pilot in the Naval Air Corps.

He was a school teacher and administrator for 8 years in Iowa, and 30 years in Palo Alto, Ca.  He spent the 1960-61 school year teaching at Kamehameha School in Honolulu, Hawaii.  He received Teacher of the Year award from Palo Alto in 1969.  In addition to his teaching duties, he coached football, basketball, and wrestling at the junior high and high school levels.

He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church in various cities.  He taught Sunday school for junior high and high school students.

 After retiring, he and Eileen did volunteer mission work for one year, teaching at Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In 2004, Bill and Eileen moved to Samaritan Village in Hughson, Ca.

A great story teller, Bill entertained family and friends with both stories and magic, and was especially known for “the quarter trick”.  He is remembered for his smile and the twinkle in his eyes as he talked with people.

A Celebration of Life in honor of Bill will be held at 1:30 on August 27 at Samaritan Village Chapel.

 The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Samaritan Village, as well as the workers from Community Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Community Hospice.