William 'Bill' Spann

Lab retiree William “Bill” Spann died June 19 at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, Calif. He was 85.

Born Nov. 29, 1926, he was a longtime resident of Tracy and a World War II veteran who helped build the Delta-Mendota Canal.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., he served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and had lived in Tracy the past 60 years. He worked 31 years in boiler maintenance at LLNL's Site 300 and seven years on the canal project with the Bureau of Reclamation.

Spann was a member of Mount Oso Masonic Lodge F&AM 460, American Legion Tracy Post 172 and Tracy Loyal Order of the Moose 2283.

He is survived by one daughter, Denise Gamble, and her husband, Robert, of Tracy; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Glenetta Spann; a daughter, Claudia Knoll; and two brothers, Otto Forest Spann Jr. and Durwood Spann.

Services will be held June 26 at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Hotchkiss Mortuary, 5 W. Highland Ave., Tracy. Burial will follow in Tracy Cemetery, 600 E. Schulte Road. Visitation will be observed from 2 to 5 p.m. June 25 at the mortuary.

Contributions in Mr. Spann's name may be sent to a hospice organization of choice.