William F. “Bill” Heaton – Hansen-Spear

William F. “Bill” Heaton, age 94, of Quincy, died on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 9:12 p.m. in Blessing Hospital.

Bill was born on March 13, 1930 in Macomb, IL, a son of Ross and Roxie Stoops Heaton. On April 2, 1950 he married Helen LaVon Stillfew in Macomb, IL. She preceded him in death on August 30, 2001.

Bill served in the United States Army as a Morse code operator during the Korean War. He served from January 29, 1952 until his honorable discharge on January 19, 1954.

Bill worked many jobs before retiring. He managed several Kroger stores before moving to Quincy in 1960, where he was employed by Merchants Wholesale and later at Randall Foods. Afterward, he worked at the Westview Golf Course pro shop. Following his retirement, Bill continued to work as a ringman for Ewalt Auction and drove cars for Ron Snider Auto, a close family friend since his move to Quincy in 1960.

Bill loved traveling with his wife and friends, often searching for antiques and indulging in his passion for toy guns. In 2002, he held a three-day auction in Macomb, where he sold over 1,500 toy guns.

In his younger days, Bill was a professional horseshoe pitcher. He built the first indoor horseshoe courts in the old Franklin School gym and attended many world tournaments, earning top placements. Bill also enjoyed bowling and was a skilled pool player, often running the table and impressing others with his trick shots.

Bill also enjoyed occasional outings to the casino and playing scratch-off tickets in his later years. He loved watching the Cubs play ball and catching old westerns on the “boob tube,” as he would say.

Bill was a loving father and grandfather, and he will be missed dearly. He lived a long, full life and wouldn’t want us to be sad. Instead, he would want us to move forward, carrying on the great values he taught and lived by. A man of faith, Bill was a member of the Methodist Church and attended Vermont Street United Methodist Church, though he was unable to do so in his later years.

Survivors include: his daughter, Loretta (Harold) Hyslop of Quincy; three grandchildren: Jesse Lee Heaton of Quincy; Chip Hyslop of LaBelle, MO; and Kelly Hoener of Marietta, GA; four great grandhchildren: Lennie and Hunter Hyslop and Kennedy and Zepplyn Ross; and a brother, Ben (Lois) Heaton of Wheaton, IL.

In addition to his wife, Bill was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Steven Wayne “Doc” Heaton; a granddaughter, Danyel Ruscoe; six brothers; and four sisters.

Visitation: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Quincy Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Services: 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Quincy Memorial Park Mausoleum with Rev. Rachel Stockle officiating.

Entombment: Quincy Memorial Park Mausoleum with military honors provided by American Legion Post 37 and the United States Army Funeral Honors Detail.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers Vermont Street United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made on line at: https://memorials.hansenspear.com/.

www.hansenspear.com

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.