William Arnold (Bill) Spence, age 61, died Oct. 22, 2024. He was born Nov. 19, 1962 in Bogalusa, La. to the late Edward Arnold Spence and Sylvia Williams (Sib) Spence. He had been a long-time resident of St. Charles, Ill. but had relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where he had resided for the past three years. Bill is survived by his mother, Sib Spence; daughter, Kate Spence; son, Jack Spence; sister, Marjorie Hill (Scott); nephews, Benjamin Hill (Kaitlyn) and Nicholas Hill (Ashley), and one great-nephew, Hudson Hill.

Bill was a graduate of Picayune Memorial High School, Mississippi State University with a BS in petroleum engineering, and Rollins College where he earned his MBA.  Bill’s 40 year career has been spent in sales and marketing within the paper, printing, and packaging industry. He was employed with Sun Chemical Company as Key Account Manager for the past 12 years and had been awarded Salesman of the Year on more than one occasion. 

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, spending much of his free time golfing, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.  He loved the climate and terrain of Utah and had most recently hiked the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim in just under 10 hours.  His  adventurous spirit never shied away from pushing himself physically and mentally, always seeking new athletic activities to enjoy the beauty around him.  He loved cooking and gardening, had renovated a beautiful early 1900’s home in St. Charles, and could grow the most beautiful zinnias and dahlias you’ve ever seen.  He packed a lot of living into his 61 short years.

Bill had an infectious smile and a rich laugh. He was a wonderful Dad, brother, and friend to many. He will be greatly missed. Go fly high on that mountain.

A memorial service to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in his memory be made to Boy Scouts of America Troop 2. 416 North Haugh Ave. Picayune, MS 39466 or Sierra Club Commemorative s/Memorials 2101 Webster Street Suite 1300 Oakland, CA 94612.